Why Adelaide can’t afford to leave talent at the door

Adelaide is at an inflection point, writes Sam Dighton. “The companies winning in the global economy right now are not the most homogeneous; they are the most inclusive.”

Adelaide is at an important inflection point. As we accelerate towards our ambition of becoming a globally connected hub for defence, technology, health sciences, and the creative industries, we need to attract and retain workforce.

We are actively attracting skilled migrants from around the world, yet too many arrive here only to find the door to meaningful employment firmly shut.

This simply must change. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because the economic and social cost of getting it wrong is one our state cannot afford.

South Australia has made significant strides in attracting international talent. Our migration programs are well-designed, our universities draw students from dozens of countries, and our liveability is a genuine competitive advantage. The Committee’s Benchmarking Adelaide report demonstrates the success of Adelaide’s reputation.

Attraction is only half the equation. What happens when a highly qualified engineer from India, a financial analyst from Nigeria, or a data scientist from Colombia submits their CV to an Adelaide business? Far too often, the answer is silence. As we........

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