papilon

News Flash!!! The world is changing. Young Australians have many more options today as do do young British backpackers/gap year. Most of the jobs on offer to young aussie backpackers were taken by harder working more reliable and cheaper to employ eastern europeans a decade ago. Ironically two aussie couples we know have recently uprooted there families and moved to London. One a senior manager for a big four auditor the other a business lawyer.

brissybee

How are they going? Working, settled? Did they have work lined up or did they find it once they got there.

Just wondering...

papilon

No idea how they are going but yes both had work lined up.

chris955

Exactly, times change. You mention British backpackers, apparently the number heading to Australia has dropped 20% so it works both ways so Australia isnt calling either.

roaringmouse

That isn't what the official stats from DIAC/DIBP for WHVs say.

There was a drop of around 8% after the worse of the GFC affected Australia (2009-10 grants) but the numbers have be rising since then. For the year to 30/06/13 there were 47,121 WHV grants to UK citizens - an 11.1% increase from the year before that, and 38% higher compared to 2007/08.

For visa holders actually in Australia, on 30/06/11 there were 22,700 UK citizens, 30/06/12 there were 25,677, and 30/06/13 there were 29,533. An increase of 13.1% and 15.1%

Not sure where the drop in 20% you mention has come from?

Beoz

Chris. No need to take it personally and compare. It's just an article.

3 reasons why.

1. 10 years ago the pound was the currency in Europe to earn. It is not today. Therefore when the 2 year working visa is up, travel is done, there's more money to be earned in Australia
2. Jobs aren't as freely available in the UK today as it was 10 years ago. Therefore the desire for a company to sponsor is greatly reduced and those wishing to stay beyond the 2 year working visa find it harder to do so.
3. The USA provides a relatively easy to get employer sponsored visa providing more options for Australians.

chris955

Take it personally? It doesnt affect me.

Beoz

Sure it does. If there's no Aussie bar tender at your local you only have us to complain to about how much you hated Geelong and Brisvegas

chris955

OK, dont let it bother you too much.