The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way talent think about their work and mobility preferences, according to a report from Seek Asia, The Network and the Boston Consulting Group.

The report, which examines how the pandemic has impacted global attitudes and preferences towards working abroad, surveyed more than 200,000 respondents across 190 countries.

When it comes to employee relocation, several Asia Pacific countries, such as Singapore and New Zealand, have become the preferred choices of talent in 2020. In 2014, one Asia Pacific country, Australia, was in the top 10. The 2020 list now sees a total of four Asia Pacific countries.

The report states this is likely due to the countries' management of Covid-19, which have largely registered low mortality rates and kept infection cases in check.

"Since Q4 2020, we observed an average of 28% growth in job openings compared to the peak of Covid in Q2 of 2020 across the seven countries that we operate in, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, Peter Bithos, CEO of SEEK Asia, said.

"Covid-19 has engendered a new kind of mobility, virtual mobility," Bithos adds. "According to the report, 57% of respondents now say they are willing to work remotely for an employer that does not have a physical presence in their home countries, a level that is higher than the proportion who are open to physical relocation. Not only that, about 62% of candidates who have a master's degree are also open to virtual work. For hirers who are struggling to fill job openings, the time is ripe to warm up to the option of offering virtual employment, so as to attract competent and suitable talent.”