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Remote work is thriving. And for businesses keen to expand globally, the opportunities are growing more diverse every year.

Globalisation Partners, a company known for helping firms hire teams anywhere worldwide, has experienced a period of significant transformation. At the helm is CEO Bob Cahill, who recently discussed the firm's rapid evolution, the remote work revolution, and ongoing global labour shortages.

"The company has grown tremendously over the past few years," Cahill said, reflecting on Globalisation Partners' journey since the last interview. While global upheaval from the Covid pandemic caused uncertainty for many, Cahill identifies it as a catalyst for his sector. "As it turns out, the Covid epidemic was actually a boost in many ways for the EOR [Employer of Record] model in that companies were limited in their ability to travel and to bring people into offices, so remote work sort of flourished and our platform certainly helps facilitate that."

Rather than simply weathering the storms of the past few years, Globalisation Partners saw doors open. Cahill explained, "While we don't celebrate anything that came out of Covid, we certainly felt it opened up opportunities for us and opened companies' eyes to the opportunity of what remote work can – how that can help them grow."

The firm's rebrand coincided with a raft of new platform features tailored to the realities of a fast-evolving employment landscape. "One of the major new features is what we call GP Contractor, but really that's a catch-all for contingent workers," Cahill said. Previously, the company's platform focused on full-time salaried employees. But times have changed.

"The new world order with gig workers and contract workers and digital nomads – that traditional model doesn't always work well for every employee or every company," he said. "With GP Contractor, we're able to offer a way for companies to hire great talent in a different business model that is less around salary and more about variable compensation." In practice, this means businesses can access much-needed skills through more flexible arrangements, and workers can be paid more quickly and in their preferred currencies.

Recognising this shift, Globalisation Partners is also set to launch new fintech solutions, further streamlining payment processes for global teams. Cahill added, "That opens up lots of opportunities, including lots of fintech features we'll be launching in the coming months because they want to be paid differently and more quickly and in different currencies. We think that'll actually open up to all of our employees over time."

Global demand for Employer of Record services appears undiminished, even in regions facing recessionary headwinds. "We're seeing that even globally, despite recessionary pressures, the labour market seems to be defying that at times," Cahill noted. "You can even see here, like in Australia, labour shortage continues to be a challenge. So EOR is a great facility for companies that are really struggling to find talent and they are still seeking talent."

He argued that the best organisations never stop investing in their people. "The best companies, even in recession, will continue to invest back into their businesses so an EOR platform like Globalisation Partners allows them to find that great talent anywhere in the world."

This capacity to bridge skills and hiring gaps is particularly valuable in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, where a severe talent shortage is a mounting problem. "In Australia and New Zealand, we have significant issues with talent shortages, and you know these have been compounded by the likes of rising inflation, slow supply chains, and low investment rates," Cahill noted. "With things so slow in this region, is it feasible for companies to go out and find new markets in which to conduct business? I think so."

He believes these regions are uniquely positioned. "These markets are actually bi-directional for Globalisation Partners. There are many companies around the world that are seeking talent in these regions and, you know, many are looking for follow-the-sun strategies, and there's great talent here. Now it's a bit scarce at the moment which presents some challenges," he said. Equally, Australian and New Zealand companies aren't restricted to their domestic hiring pool. "They can continue to fill that talent gap by finding talent in other markets."

Local governments are not ignoring the problem. "I know that the governments are working – have some great programs that will probably over time help balance out the skill market and labour market here, but, you know, businesses never stop moving," Cahill said. For ambitious firms, access to new global markets is often the only way to stay competitive and grow.

Cahill summed up his approach simply: "We really think a lot about our business as a talent arbitrage. It's no longer, 'I need to find talent here.' It's 'I need to find talent so I can grow. Where is that talent? Well, it's everywhere.'"

He is confident that platforms like Globalisation Partners are unlocking new possibilities for employers and job-seekers alike. "We are providing opportunities for companies to find and get access to that talent in ways they never could have in the past," he said.

As Cahill put it, "It's always a pleasure... thank you."