Employment: Crowd sourcing is the way of the future

Crowd sourcing is the way of the future even if hiring people from all around the world could jeopardise Australian jobs, an expert said.

Futurist Ross Dawson said employers are increasingly hiring experts and skilled people globally and that could mean a loss of local jobs.

But new jobs will be created as employers search for the best people around the world, he said.

"It's tapping the minds of many," Dawson said.

"Even the largest organisations don't have the breadth of internal talent they need."

External contributors to multi-nationals such as IBM and Procter & Gamble were essential in driving innovation, he said.

Dawson said Australians need to embrace the opportunities of crowd sourcing, including collaboration with peers and skill development.

However, he admits there is an ethical debate about whether to hire locally or globally with cost, quality and contribution to local communities factors to consider.

"The implication for small business is that they have access to a whole world of resources often at a level that is more affordable than local services," he said.

Dawson said companies which sought the cheapest services would suffer if they did not implement strict quality controls.

The phenomenon worked best when it was used to bring together the best people.

Crowd sourcing could also see a shift to freelancing and independent work, but Dawson said Australians can build "personal career success" by embracing it.

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