Covid-19 is bringing long-term changes to the global labour market, according to a report by global staffing provider Hays plc. Covid-19 has been a catalyst for remote work. Right now, businesses must find the optimal mix of remote work, and bear in mind that workers are now interested in working from anywhere — not just from their homes or an office.

In addition, “borderless jobs” may play a key role in resolving the skills shortage by opening up a wider talent pool.

“The world is struggling with acute skills shortages, which presents organisations with a challenge as to how they compete for the skills they desperately need in order to operate,” Hays CEO Alistair Cox said. “If organisations are unable to source these skills locally, one potential solution is for businesses to tap into labour forces further away from home, giving them access to a larger global talent pool.”

Hays reported it encourages business leaders and policy decision makers to consider whether borderless jobs and telemigration can provide long-term solutions to the global skills shortage.

“Remote working is here to stay and it will likely accelerate as businesses become more comfortable hiring people from further afield and their structures and technology allow it,” Cox said. “There are potential barriers to this that organisations will need to overcome, such as cybersecurity, embedding their culture remotely, and ensuring they comply with local labour laws. But if these can be navigated, then the potential for accessing talent pools that encompass the globe is huge.”