The Globalization of Skills
The Globalization of Skills has led business leaders to seek out foreign collaborators in order to be more competitive. This process proposes a combination of remote employees and freelancers.
The globalization of skills is not a new phenomena. It started with the free exchange established by the evolution of communication technologies. However, the covid-19 pandemic has given it more momentum. With the rounds of lockdowns, teleworking has proven to be the ideal solution to keep businesses running. The growth of telecommuting has led to the expansion of telemigration as a result of the recognition of the advantages it can bring to both companies and remote workers.
Skills Globalization: An Opportunity for Telemigrants
The concept of “telemigration” was introduced by Richard Baldwin, a professor of international economics. This notion refers to the fact that people from one country work for a company based in another country. A telemigrant is therefore a skilled, independent worker who offers services to foreign companies. They do not physically move to the employing company, but they are part of the staff in the same way as the local team.
The globalization of skills allows tele-migrants to access skilled jobs under better conditions. In the past, telecommuting and outsourcing were only for secondary activities. Now, tele-migration is encouraging business leaders to increasingly delegate strategic tasks. Teleworkers can perform accounting, IT development and other tasks.
This type of work relationship gives telemigrants flexibility and increased autonomy. They have the chance to work on their own and to organize their schedules according to their personal availability. However, competition is tough in the international job market. Remote workers must therefore redouble their efforts to meet the demands of companies.
Globalization of Skills: Meeting Business Needs
The globalization of skills is a way for companies to increase their productivity and profits. SMEs in developed countries are recruiting in developing countries to minimise production costs. Telemigration also allows companies to benefit from quality labor. And it is this very point that represents a major challenge for telemigrants. Indeed, they have to prove that they are highly skilled in their field of specialization to convince companies to recruit them. The positions to be filled often require extensive diplomas and beginners have difficulty getting hired.
In addition, workers must invest in advanced technology to ensure their high performance. A long-distance relationship also requires the use of intermediation platforms and various communication tools. Telemigrants must therefore maintain a constant technological awareness in order to manage all the necessary digital media.
Moreover, companies and telemigrants have to face certain challenges such as time differences or cultural differences. Indeed, labor legislation differs from one country to another. The same is true for public holidays. Generally, it is the migrants who must accommodate the conditions of the recruting companies.
.