The 3 Most Expensive Roles to Hire Locally (and Why Outsourcing Fixes It)

Hiring locally has its benefits, but for many businesses, some roles come with a price tag that’s simply too high. Between rising salaries, benefits, and overhead, certain functions can drain budgets fast especially when competition for talent is fierce. 

The good news: outsourcing can deliver the same expertise, often faster, without the same financial burden. Here are three of the most expensive roles to hire locally, and why offshoring them makes sense. 

1. Finance & Accounting

Accountants, bookkeepers, and financial analysts are among the most in-demand roles in Australia. According to recruitment data, average salaries for accountants have risen steadily, with many businesses struggling to fill vacancies at all. 

For SMEs, that means paying a premium to attract talent or stretching existing staff too thin. 

2. IT & Software Support

Whether it’s developers, system admins, or helpdesk staff, local IT roles are expensive and often hard to fill. The skills gap has only widened, leaving companies waiting months to secure the right candidate. 

Delays in IT hiring don’t just cost money, they slow down the entire business. 

3. Customer Service & Support

Customer-facing roles might not seem costly at first glance, but when you factor in 24/7 coverage, high turnover, and the cost of training, local hiring quickly adds up. Businesses either overspend to keep teams staffed or risk service gaps that hurt client relationships. 

Why Outsourcing Fixes the Cost Problem 

Outsourcing doesn’t mean cutting corners. It means rethinking how critical but process-driven roles are resourced. With a trusted offshore partner, businesses maintain full control of tasks and performance while gaining: 

• Cost savings they can reinvest into growth initiatives 

• Access to skilled professionals they can’t always find locally 

• HR, IT, and compliance support baked into the model 

For many companies, it’s not a question of whether to outsource, but which roles to start with. Outsourcing isn’t about replacing—it’s about expanding capability while keeping costs under control. 

Some roles will always be expensive to hire locally, but that doesn’t mean businesses have to absorb the cost alone. By outsourcing high-cost functions like finance, IT, and customer service, companies free up budgets, ease hiring pressure, and keep operations moving without compromise.