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Labor market and recruitment >> Update >> News

01/12/11

London stays top of international jobseekers hit list


Two in three (63%) UK jobseekers would be happy to move abroad

London has remained the most desirable city for jobseekers around the world, in spite of insipid economic growth in the UK. The survey of over 160,000 people from over 66 countries commissioned by jobs’ website totaljobs.com, also found that the USA remained the country of choice for those willing to work abroad.

Given the stubbornly high unemployment rates in the US and UK – at 9% and 8.1% respectively – it seems that jobseekers base their preferences more on historical significance to business and living factors than on current economic strength. This fact was laid bare with one third (34%) stating that China would lead the world out of the current economic downturn and only 13% stating they would be prepared to work there.

Mike Booker, International Director at totaljobs.com says of the research: “Despite the global economic downturn affecting the UK, we remain an attractive market for international jobseekers, particularly for those with higher level skills. 82% of those looking to come to the UK have at least undergraduate degrees and a quarter have a master’s. In a truly global market, that means that British jobseekers need to compete with the best and the brightest internationally.”

The research discovered that jobseekers prepared to move abroad would do so primarily because it would broaden their experience (cited by 53% of respondents) and provide them with better career opportunities (51%).

Top cities globally

Top countries globally

Top cities for UK emigrants

Top countries for UK emigrants

London

USA

New York

USA

New York

UK

Sydney

Australia

Singapore

Canada

Paris

Canada

Paris

Australia

Dubai

Spain

Sydney

Germany

Barcelona

Germany

 

In a sign of the devastation caused by the economic crisis in Europe, two thirds (63%) of respondents in PIIGS countries (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain) said they would be happy to leave for work abroad – significantly higher than other all other European counties except the UK. When asked why they wanted to leave half cited the higher standards of living abroad. This was particularly high in Ireland and Greece which have seen the most significant falls in living standards. Over half (52%) of those surveyed in the PIIGS country, mentioned the dire economic situation, which rose to 70% in Greece.

Significantly for the UK, Britain was the top destination for jobseekers in three of the five PIIGS countries, with only Italy (USA) and Spain (Germany) opting for other markets.

Mike Booker says: “It is understandable that people begin looking overseas when their home economy gets into difficulties. The problem is that it is the young, best qualified and most talented people that tend to have the wherewithal to leave. The brain drain that results can have a serious impact once the economy recovers leading to a future structural challenge.”

UK Jobseekers
In a sign that UK jobseekers are increasingly flexible as a result of tough domestic conditions, 63% of the 7,000 surveyed said they would be happy to work abroad, a rise of 17% in two years. However, for many UK jobseekers it seems English being the first language of a country is a prerequisite, with the top three all Anglophone countries.

As with other international jobseekers, those in the UK said moving abroad was primarily for experience and career reasons. Significantly more Britons cited domestic economic conditions as a reason to move (27%) than global respondents (12%). British jobseekers also see emigration as the route to a better life with 41% saying they’d move away to benefit from a higher standard of living.

Mike Booker says: “Jobseekers, in particular the young, have become more flexible on where they’ll work, which is an encouraging sign and with English as they’re first language they have a significant advantage. However, we can’t rest on our laurels. The rise of the BRIC countries, most of which don’t use English to any great extent, means the competitive advantage of being fluent in the current business language lessens every year.”