Major shifts in the global labour market are being driven by technology and internationally focused skills sourcing, according to data collated by the IDC and commissioned by global employment platform Deel.
In its 2025 State of Global Hiring report, which analysed data from more than 1 million worker contracts in over 150 countries, Deel identified the source of these changes and what it means for jobseekers and employers.
Before the report was released, Deel and the IDC identified that AI alone reshaped hiring for 98 per cent of Aussie organisations.
Now, the latest findings highlight the emergence of a profession that barely existed two years ago: AI trainers. It was identified as the fastest-growing role on Deel, growing 283 per cent internationally last year. In addition, more than 70,000 workers now train AI systems, running from basic data annotation to expert feedback across highly technical fields such as medicine, economics and translation.
Australia has yet to catch up to international figures – the US topped the field, representing almost 60 per cent of all AI trainers, followed by India under 10 per cent, and the Philippines, Canada and Kenya all sitting under 5 per cent.
However, Australian intent was noted, only trailing behind Singapore in AI trainer employment across the Asia-Pacific region.
The report also analysed why cross-border hiring is becoming more rampant. Of successful start-ups, the UK topped cross-border hiring rates, followed by Canada just over 10 per cent, Germany just under below, and Australia and Spain, hovering around 5 per cent.
Localised data trended in the same way, noting a significant market for talent from the US and UK, among others, by Australian companies.
The prevalence of this practice in wealthy, high-income countries signalled it was less about cost-saving and more about finding employees with the best skill set to ensure success.
Software developing topped international hiring numbers by Aussie companies due to local skill shortages, according to Lauren Thomas, a global economist at Deel.
She said: “It is no coincidence these roles have dropped off the national skills shortage list, suggesting global talent pools have helped close the gap.”
According to Thomas, the benefit of filling hard-to-source roles is not limited to the individual business, because “the productivity gains extend further. Persistent skills gaps and poor job matching can weigh on productivity economy-wide.”
“Access to global talent helps reduce that drag,” she said.
The report highlighted that, while senior leadership positions saw the most identifiable growth, pay increases varied by region and role. In the US, leadership and technical roles saw the greatest compensation growth, while project managers saw a 39.6 per cent increase in ANZ.
Deel’s 2025 State of Global Hiring also identified a growing number of Australians working for overseas organisations without relocating, especially in the US, the UK, and Canada. Software developers topped the list, with sales managers also emerging as an in-demand role.
Interestingly, a 46 per cent growth in Australian hires for Canadian companies was noted, becoming one of the top four countries Canada seeks for cross-border talent.
As such, the report suggested Australians remain crucial to the global talent pool despite shifts in skills sourcing and the growing prevalence of AI.
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An employee is a person who has signed a contract with a company to provide services in exchange for pay or benefits. Employees vary from other employees like contractors in that their employer has the legal authority to set their working conditions, hours, and working practises.
Amelia McNamara
Amelia is a Professional Services Journalist with Momentum Media, covering Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily and Accounting Times. She has a background in technical copy and arts and culture journalism, and enjoys screenwriting in her spare time.