Australia supported by strong employment rate, high LinkedIn penetration, relatively balanced cost of living
Australia has risen among the strongest markets globally when it comes to career opportunity, according to a new index, which looked at the accessibility of international markets when it comes to employment.
The Global Career Access Index, released by career development specialists at EMBXY, looked into how easy it is for individuals to enter, build, and sustain a career in different markets across the world.
It used five metrics to determine its results, namely employment rate, GDP per capita, cost of living index, share of senior and middle management positions filled by women, and LinkedIn penetration.
Australia ranked fifth in the index with a 67.95 score, emerging as one of the most attractive destinations for career growth in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
The market's strong placement is due to its strong employment rate (63.8%), high LinkedIn penetration (76%), and a relatively balanced cost of living (67.9).
"Australia continues to appeal to professionals seeking both career progression and quality of life," the report read.
Australia falls behind Singapore, which ranked first in the index, with a 74.76 score. The market saw the highest GDP per capita in the index, coupled with a strong employment rate and high digital connectivity.
It is also behind the United Arab Emirates, which placed third with a 68.68 index score. It saw the highest LinkedIn penetration in the index with 78%, with a strong employment rate and a comparatively lower cost of living.
Evolving priorities at work
The findings come in the wake of employees' shifting priorities due to the rise of artificial intelligence.
According to the report, the findings indicate that employees are no longer just focusing on entering the workforce, but also progressing into leadership roles.
They're also focused on accessing continuous professional development and maintaining wellbeing alongside career growth.
"Career opportunities today seem far less people-centric than it used to be. It's not just about salaries or role availability — it's about whether people can see a human path forward," said Patricia Cheung from EMBXY.
This is why some markets, despite reporting economic strength, do not have higher ratings when it comes to career accessibility.
Markets such as Japan and Hong Kong, despite maintaining stable employment and strong salaries, have low or moderate digital access, according to the index.
Indonesia, despite having low living costs and workforce participation strength, is also limited by lower income levels and connectivity.
"What this data shows is that the most competitive markets are those that enable people to grow," Cheung said.
"Those that will rise in the future will depend on sustaining our human advantage in an AI era without wellbeing traded for success."
