LOOKING OFFSHORE / Jobs that won't go overseas (2023)

LOOKING OFFSHORE / Jobs that won't go overseas (13)

They say the five stages of dealing with loss are denial, anger, bargaining, grieving and acceptance. When it comes to dealing with the loss of white-collar jobs to developing countries, Americans are still in the early stages. The sooner we get to acceptance -- and start preparing or retooling ourselves for jobs of the future -- the better off we'll be.

To that end, I've been asking workplace experts what types of jobs are least likely to be exported. Here's what they say:

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Although high-tech is being hit hard by offshoring, it's not the industry, but the position, that is vulnerable.

In human resources, for example, payroll and benefits processing jobs can be shipped offshore, whereas employee recruiters cannot.

In entertainment, production work is moving to cheaper locations, but writers, actors and directors usually need to understand American culture.

In health care, jobs such as billing, lab work and even reading X-rays can be done anywhere. But anyone who touches a patient -- doctors, nurses, physical therapists -- needs to be close at hand.

"In nursing, we're doing the opposite of outsourcing. We're insourcing nurses from the Philippines," says Shawn Banerji, an executive director with Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive recruiting firm.

Bear in mind that no job is immune from outsourcing.

"In some elective surgery, the patient is flown overseas," where the procedure can be done more cheaply, says Banerji.

Unsure about your job prospects? Take this simple test:

Does your job mainly involve sitting at a desk, working on a computer and talking on the phone? Then it probably can be done anywhere. (Telecommuters take note.)

Does your job require a lot of personal contact or interaction? Then it will be harder to export.

There are people-intensive occupations at all income levels that would be hard to send offshore, such as child care providers, hair stylists, police, firefighters, chefs, interior designers, attorneys and financial planners.

The people you interact with don't necessarily have to be living.

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"Morticians and crime scene investigators" would be hard to outsource, says Jack Brewer, director of the career center at San Francisco State University.

Elementary and secondary schools will always need someone to teach reading and math and keep kids in their seats.

Banerji says college professors are more at risk because of the growth in online learning.

Stephen Mader, chief executive of executive search firm Christian & Timbers, disagrees. He says foreign students are flocking to U.S. colleges and private high schools for an American education.

Moreover, offshoring will force many adults to return to college for a new career.

"Two of the biggest growth areas in our economy are health care and teachers. Education can't stop at 20 years old," says John Challenger of the outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas.

In business, "front-end relationship jobs" that involve sales and negotiating will be hardest to outsource, says Banerji.

"We've found that sales is a science. It's not just having an outgoing personality. Certain lines of academia prepare you for a career in sales," Banerji says.

Account- and project-management jobs are also hard to export because they require interaction with a wide range of people.

You can hone your interpersonal skills by taking classes in management, communications, presentation and psychology.

Jobs in marketing, advertising and media are likely to stay here because they require a deep understanding of American culture.

In technology, although programming work is being moved offshore, job titles such as "solutions architects" and "client relationship executives" are still in demand, says Paul Zellner, a Russell Reynolds managing director.

As the world becomes one marketplace, it's important to think globally.

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"It doesn't hurt to have courses in history, world cultures, macroeconomics and world religions," says Zellner. Learning a foreign language is not as important as developing "a cultural open-mindedness."

If you have an engineering, accounting or back-office job that is at risk, "if you have added to your technical skills a cultural awareness, a willingness to embrace differences, manage through them, suddenly you find yourself in a favorable position," says Zellner.

In the future, many new jobs will evolve. We don't know what they are today.

"Instead of trying to decide what they are, get ready to be in business for yourself. A lot of colleges teach entrepreneurship," says Mader.

There's also the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," approach to job security.

Zellner says his son, who is graduating from college this year, recently took a trip to India "that was supposed to be educational. He came back and said, 'I want to go to work for a company that does outsourcing.' "

According to Zellner and Banerji, companies that help other companies move work offshore include Accenture, Affiliated Computer Services, Bearing Point (formerly KPMG Consulting), Convergys, EXL Service, IBM, OfficeTiger and WNS Global Services.

Although people should be mindful of the risks in offshoring, they should not let that stop them from doing something they love.

"People should find out what it is they really enjoy and do a great job of it," Zellner says. "Companies have been using global resourcing for years and years," and the U.S. economy continues to create jobs (although not as many as we would like).

Banerji's advice: "Show passion and enthusiasm, show results, view yourself as a citizen of the world. If you're an accountant and they're outsourcing accountants, say, 'I want to go manage the outsourcing center in Bangalore.' "

At San Jose State University, a major source of Silicon Valley engineers, offshoring is not a major concern among students, says Lina Melkonian, assistant director of the career center.

"Occasionally, a student will ask, 'Do you think my job will be sent overseas?' " she says.

Melkonian's answer: "There's no security to begin with. You need to continually upgrade your skills to remain competitive. That's one of the major messages we're giving. Once you get your bachelor's degree, your education is just beginning. Your job/career will change several times. Develop resiliency, flexibility, the ability to make switches. Ask yourself, 'What is the competitive edge I need to remain valid?' "

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FAQs

Why is offshoring bad? ›

Proponents of offshoring say that the practice provides valuable goods and services at lower prices and makes way for more advanced jobs domestically. Opponents think offshoring is taking U.S. jobs while harming the environment and violating human rights.

Are white collar jobs being outsourced? ›

While some IT, human resources, and tech positions are already outsourced, more white-collar workers could eventually find themselves competing in a global job market. "If you can do your job from home, be scared.

What jobs are in demand internationally? ›

What are the most in-demand and highly sought-after professions for international work—and how can you get your foot in the door?
  1. Education. ...
  2. Tourism & Hospitality. ...
  3. International Development & Humanitarian Aid. ...
  4. The Tech & Business Sector. ...
  5. Engineering, Construction & Energy. ...
  6. Healthcare. ...
  7. Working Remotely & Self-employment.

Why do American companies go overseas? ›

Job outsourcing helps U.S. companies be more competitive in the global marketplace. It allows them to sell to foreign markets with overseas branches. They keep labor costs low by hiring in emerging markets with lower standards of living. That lowers prices on the goods they ship back to the United States.

Is offshoring good for Americans? ›

Productivity and new jobs

With all the savings and new sales companies receive through offshoring, they have enough capital to create new jobs for American domestic workers. This has happened throughout the years as manufacturing jobs have moved overseas, and more white-collar jobs have become available for Americans.

What is a weakness of offshoring? ›

One of the biggest disadvantages of offshoring is time zone differences. Many offshoring companies operate within a 5-12 hour difference from their client, meaning work schedules may need to be adjusted to accommodate your offshore partner.

What are pink collar jobs examples? ›

A pink-collar worker is someone working in the care-oriented career field or in fields historically considered to be women's work. This may include jobs in the beauty industry, nursing, social work, teaching, secretarial work, upholstery, or child care.

What jobs are most likely to be outsourced? ›

20 common jobs that are outsourced
  1. Customer support representative. ...
  2. IT support specialist. ...
  3. Human resources specialist. ...
  4. Payroll clerk. ...
  5. Bookkeeper/accountant. ...
  6. Tax preparer. ...
  7. Personal assistant. ...
  8. Computer programmer.
Jun 24, 2022

What jobs are least likely to be outsourced? ›

Those jobs least likely to be outsourced are: Financial Managers. Training and Development Managers.
...
The proof is in the pudding:
  • Parts Salespersons.
  • Telephone Operators.
  • Billing and posting clerks and machine operators.
  • Computer Operators.
  • Data Entry Keyers.
  • Word Processors and Typists.
  • Tax Preparers.
  • Medical Transcriptionists.
Feb 23, 2011

What is the most wanted job in the world? ›

12 high demand jobs
  1. Computer manager. Computer managers oversee a company's network and IT services, ensuring users can access required software and tools without interruption. ...
  2. Paralegal. ...
  3. Technical writer. ...
  4. Web developer. ...
  5. Financial manager. ...
  6. Medical assistant. ...
  7. Software developer. ...
  8. Market research analyst.
Feb 21, 2023

Which job is most required in abroad? ›

5 Popular Jobs in Foreign Countries
  • Working Holiday in New Zealand.
  • Teach English in Thailand.
  • Au Pair in Germany.
  • Work in Tourism and Hospitality in Spain.
  • Marketing and Business in China.
  • Choose from hundreds of jobs in foreign countries on GoAbroad.
Jan 30, 2023

How many jobs are lost due to outsourcing? ›

According to our extensive research: Roughly 300,000 U.S. jobs are outsourced each year. The global outsourcing market is valued at $92.5 billion, with the U.S. market bringing in $62 billion of the total international revenue. 66% of businesses in the United States outsource at least one department.

Why is outsourcing bad for America? ›

The Bottom LineThe short term gain derived by companies that outsource operations offshore is eclipsed by the long term damage to the U.S. economy. Over time, the loss of jobs and expertise will make innovation in the U.S. difficult, while, at the same time, building the brain trust of other countries.

Why is outsourcing bad? ›

If jobs are outsourced to different countries, morale in the workplace would suffer significantly and that would bring bad publicity to the company (Bucki). Outsourcing has caused high unemployment, loss of income and loss of competitive advantage, leaving people without financial support and employment.

What are the top locations for offshoring? ›

Ten of the best offshore development countries include India, China, the Philippines, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, and South Africa. Nearshoring is increasing in popularity as companies desire to have offshore workers close to a home market and in the same time zones.

What are the top 10 offshoring countries? ›

8 top countries for outsourcing business
  1. India. India remains a top outsourcing destination for businesses across the world. ...
  2. The Philippines. Like India, the Philippines is one of the best countries for outsourcing services in Asia. ...
  3. Ukraine. ...
  4. Poland. ...
  5. Brazil. ...
  6. Mexico. ...
  7. Malaysia. ...
  8. Argentina.
Dec 13, 2021

Where is offshoring most common? ›

In 2021, India had 27.3 million filled manufacturing jobs – more than double the 12.284 million filled manufacturing jobs in domestic American companies. Moreover, India has become one of the leading offshoring destinations for manufacturing.

Does offshoring cause job loss? ›

How many jobs have been lost to offshoring, and can be recovered by reshoring? Three to five million manufacturing jobs have been lost to trade/offshoring since 1979. Similarly, three to five million can be brought back by reshoring. These conclusions are consistently found by serious researchers on the subject.

What are the disadvantages of offshore workers? ›

Disadvantages: Hard work mentally and physically. Health Hazard. Separation from loved ones.

What are the two 2 main benefits of offshoring? ›

In addition to the lower labour cost, offshoring can also reduce or even eliminate the cost of recruitment. For example, if you have an offshoring service provider, they'll have the necessary expertise and human resource workforce to provide the perfect skilled labor for your company.

What is a purple collar job? ›

Purple-collar jobs are skilled workers and typically someone who is both white and blue-collar. Information technology workers are one example. They are principally white-collar, but perform blue-collar tasks with some regularity, such as engineers and technicians.

What is a grey collar profession? ›

Gray-collar workers often find themselves at the intersection of technology and service; in most cases, these are positions that require some combination of physical and technical skills (such as healthcare workers, teachers, robotics engineers, etc.).

What is grey collar work? ›

The term “grey collar” refers to an employee whose career path has taken them from the field to management. In other words, they are a “blue-collar” employee who has become a “white-collar” employee.

What are the hardest jobs to outsource? ›

As such, those who can repair passenger or commercial vehicles and those who can do plumbing, electrical work or carpentry will find that their jobs cannot be readily outsourced.

What are five 5 IT services that are usually outsourced? ›

Five Most Commonly Outsourced Business Services
  • Customer Support. This should be of no surprise to most people. ...
  • Chat Support. ...
  • Healthcare Services. ...
  • Data Entry. ...
  • IT Services.
Jul 21, 2021

What are 3 disadvantages of outsourcing? ›

So, what are the disadvantages of outsourcing?
  • Loss of control.
  • Negative impact on staff.
  • Data protection and confidentiality risks.
  • Lack of consistency.
  • Financial and reputation risks.
  • Less flexibility.
Feb 3, 2022

What companies have failed at outsourcing? ›

7 of The Biggest Modern Outsourcing Failures
  • IBM and Indiana. ...
  • Epic and Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust. ...
  • IBM and Texas. ...
  • Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Medical Software. ...
  • Navitaire and Virgin Airlines. ...
  • Queensland Health and IBM. ...
  • IT Vendor and Royal Bank of Scotland. ...
  • Problems with Code Quality.
Feb 10, 2021

What can I do instead of outsourcing? ›

7 Popular Alternatives to Outsourcing
  • Adopt an Extended Team Model. ...
  • Hire a Student. ...
  • Hire Family. ...
  • Use the Barter System. ...
  • Hire People with Disabilities. ...
  • Hire a Freelancer. ...
  • Hire Remote Employees.
Jul 22, 2021

What is the easiest country for an American to move to? ›

Which are the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US? Portugal, Malta and Spain are some of the easiest countries to relocate to from the United States. American citizens can either gain permanent residency or apply for citizenships via each country's Citizenship by Invest programs.

What country are Americans moving to? ›

Mexico is the top destination for Americans moving abroad, followed by the U.K., Canada and Australia. So far in 2022, ~75% more Americans have moved to Mexico than Canada. Portugal has seen the biggest percentage increase in Americans moving in (+122% from 2019-2021)

How to leave America for good? ›

If you're planning to move out of the US permanently, or even give up your US citizenship, then you need a second passport. You can move to certain countries for 5 years and then apply for citizenship, or you can buy a passport and have it in hand in 90 days to 8 months.

What is the #1 happiest job? ›

The List: Happiest Jobs, According to Career Experts
  • Physical Therapist. Physical therapists are experts in movement and the human body that often help to rehabilitate people with injuries or disabilities. ...
  • Firefighter. ...
  • Teacher. ...
  • Teaching Assistant. ...
  • Quality Assurance Analyst.
Feb 13, 2023

What is the coolest job to have? ›

Top 8 Coolest Jobs for College Graduates
  • Forensic Scientist. Forensic scientists are the cool people you see on crime scene investigation TV shows and movies. ...
  • Game Designer. ...
  • Cyber Security Specialist. ...
  • Animator. ...
  • Film Critic. ...
  • Astronaut (Space Studies) ...
  • 7. Entertainment Engineer. ...
  • Athletic Trainer.
Sep 14, 2021

What jobs will be gone by 2030? ›

6 Jobs That May Disappear by 2030
  • Taxi Drivers. Jobs such as taxi drivers rely on the ability to drive and pay attention to their surroundings. ...
  • Cashiers. ...
  • Truck Drivers. ...
  • Teachers. ...
  • Travel Agents. ...
  • Data Entry Clerks.

Which country will get job easily? ›

Australia

If you are looking to start an international career to grow exponentially, Australia is one of the top countries where you can easily get a work visa.

What skills are in high demand abroad? ›

  • Teaching jobs abroad.
  • IT jobs abroad.
  • Financial jobs abroad.
  • Business administration jobs abroad.
  • Travel and tourism jobs abroad.
  • Project management jobs abroad.
  • Engineering, construction, and energy jobs abroad.
  • Yoga instructor jobs abroad.
Dec 21, 2022

Which is the best country to get job easily? ›

  • Canada. #1 in A good job market. #3 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Germany. #2 in A good job market. ...
  • United Kingdom. #3 in A good job market. ...
  • United States. #4 in A good job market. ...
  • Australia. #5 in A good job market. ...
  • Japan. #6 in A good job market. ...
  • Switzerland. #7 in A good job market. ...
  • Sweden. #8 in A good job market.

Which country outsources the most? ›

The US has the most percentage of outsourced jobs in the world, with almost 68% of companies delegating their services.

What is the major downside of outsourcing? ›

confidentiality and security - which may be at risk. lack of flexibility - contract could prove too rigid to accommodate change. management difficulties - changes at the outsourcing company could lead to friction. instability - the outsourcing company could go out of business.

What is the difference between offshoring and outsourcing? ›

Outsourcing occurs when a company contracts a specific process out to a third party, finding someone who specializes in whatever needs to be done. Offshoring happens when businesses send in-house jobs overseas. Both may save a company money, but only offshoring specifically means sending jobs out of the country.

Why is offshoring unethical? ›

Offshoring has become a popular practice for multinational corporations (MNCs), with emerging markets being regarded as attractive locations. Although offshore outsourcing has economic benefits, it also involves several ethical issues, such as poor working conditions, child labour and environmental pollution.

Is outsourcing illegal in the US? ›

There are no national laws or specific national regulations that regulate outsourcing transactions generally or in relation to particular types of outsourcing transactions.

Is it outsourcing a dying concept? ›

Traditional outsourcing is dead. Long live disruptive outsourcing. Disruptive outsourcing leaps to the front. Our 2018 survey of more than 500 executives from leading organizations indicates that disruptive outsourcing solutions—led by cloud and automation—are fundamentally transforming traditional outsourcing.

Can outsourcing be illegal? ›

US federal laws do not specifically regulate outsourcing transactions.

What are the negative effects of offshore production? ›

The decision to offshore production brings negative environmental impact to the company's nearshore partner and their country. The negative environmental impacts of offshoring include significantly higher carbon emissions and pollution from factory production and long-distance transport.

Why is offshoring bad for the developing countries? ›

Workers in offshoring firms often perform monotonous jobs under poor conditions, and do not gain durable or marketable skills. Countries become more susceptible to trade policy and trade cost uncertainty, and incentives to launch import barriers can be altered due to participation in global value chains.

What are the pros and cons of offshoring it? ›

Among the offshoring pros are an access to a huge pool of skilled software developers, reduction of labor costs, opportunity for fast business growth. Some of the offshoring cons may include communication difficulties, cultural barrier, and time difference.

What are 3 negatives about oil rigs? ›

Drilling projects operate around the clock generating pollution, fueling climate change, disrupting wildlife and damaging public lands that were set aside to benefit all people.

What are the main hazards in offshore? ›

There are five main groups of health hazards in the offshore oil and gas industry:
  • musculoskeletal disorders (manual handling, ergonomics)
  • hazardous substances.
  • physical hazards (noise, vibration, asbestos and radiation)
  • biological hazards (food/water hygiene)
  • psychosocial hazards (stress)
Feb 17, 2021

Why is offshoring a problem for American workers? ›

Offshoring production heightens the economy in other countries. Meanwhile, the economy in our own country will decrease. This is due to employees spending less caused by reduced income. Therefore, those funds are no longer circulating throughout the U.S.

Why is offshoring attractive? ›

If you're looking to expand your business, you could consider offshoring. It may help you access a wider talent pool, increase your service offering, participate in the international economy, and take advantage of tax breaks.

Why outsourcing is better than offshoring? ›

Outsourcing is typically better for tasks that are well-defined and can be completed without too much interaction with your team or company. Offshoring is better for tasks that require more communication and collaboration.

What are 3 advantages of offshoring? ›

Keys Benefits of Offshoring
  • Access To Affordable Labor and A Diverse Talent Pool. ...
  • Cost Savings and Financial Incentives. ...
  • 24/7 Operational Capability. ...
  • Increase in Operational Autonomy. ...
  • Sustainable Scaling Opportunity. ...
  • Access to a Global Marketplace.
Sep 27, 2022

What is difference between outsourcing and offshoring? ›

Outsourcing occurs when a company contracts a specific process out to a third party, finding someone who specializes in whatever needs to be done. Offshoring happens when businesses send in-house jobs overseas.

Why isn't offshoring illegal? ›

Special Considerations

Offshoring is perfectly legal because it provides entities with a great deal of privacy and confidentiality. But authorities are concerned that OFCs are being used to avoid paying taxes. As such, there is increased pressure on these countries to report foreign holdings to global tax authorities.

What are two of the possible disadvantages to an offshore move for a business? ›

Offshoring means a business arranges to get its work done in a different country, usually to take advantage of cost savings.
...
Potential disadvantages of outsourcing:
  • Security risks. ...
  • Loss of control. ...
  • Lack of institutional knowledge. ...
  • Intellectual property concerns.
Aug 11, 2020

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