London’s financial sector will enjoy a rush of overseas talent entering the jobs market over the next 12 months as sentiment towards to UK economy turns more confident, according to Ambition, the global recruitment group.

In a poll of 800 Australian banking, finance and accounting professionals, Ambition found that three in four workers would consider moving to London to gain overseas experience within the next three years, while one in three plan on moving abroad in the next 12 months.

This will be viewed positively in the City as the number of skilled overseas candidates working in London fell during the recession. It was reported in November 2008, shortly after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, that the number of Australians leaving the UK each month was up 54% compared to three years earlier – 2,700 were leaving per month compared to 1,750 in 2005.

The number of overseas candidates registering for work in London also fell; numbers were 40% down between June 2008 and June 2009 and 66% down between 2009 and 2010.

The obstacle in the way of many overseas staff looking to work in London will be the enhanced requirements for the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa which, in some cases, will require candidates to have secured work before they arrive in the UK.

Simon Lynch, managing director of Ambition UK, says: “The problem for many wishing to work in London over the next 12 months is the new qualification rules for the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa. These changes are restricting the number of candidates able to work in the UK for an amount of time that will boost their career potential and this will severely impact London’s growth.

“The City is crying out for skilled people and it’s clear there is an appetite from candidates with these skills to work here, but there is a huge roadblock which must be addressed if London’s economy is to power forward.”