Expat Explorer survey lifts lid on why people move

Why do we move? A recent expat survey revealed some interesting answers to that question

For Brits who move to Spain, the answer to the question “Why did you move?” often appears simple: for the weather, beaches, food and lifestyle.

But in most instances, people who consider themselves expats left their country of birth for a multitude of reasons, and a recent survey by HSBC Bank has revealed some interesting statistics into what lights a fire under the world’s expats…

Between April and May this year, the bank’s Expat Explorer survey polled more than 9,000 expats from 100 different countries, asking them why they moved, where they moved to and from, and a whole host of other questions that elicited some fascinating data.

According to the survey, most people moved to another country to improve their job prospects, with 38% of those polled stating this was the biggest driver. Following closely behind was quality of life, with 31% of those polled believing that a move overseas would improve their living standards. Equally, 31% of expats moved to be closer to family or a loved one, while 20% merely upped sticks to boost their earning potential.

The survey also found that the age group most likely to move or live abroad was 35-54, with 46% of those polled falling into this age range. Interestingly, the younger generation – aged 18-34 – was more likely to be residing overseas than the older generation (55+), polling 28% as compared to 25%.

However, when people do decide to retire abroad, the most popular retirement destination of those polled was Canada, which suggests that many Americans and British opt for the Great White North when their working life is over.

Work-wise, Brazil is the top destination (if not choice) for expats who have been sent abroad by their company, perhaps reflecting the growing business opportunities in the emerging South American country, while people who move to the UK appear to spend more of their time socialising with the locals than in any other country – a nod to Britain’s famously welcoming pub culture and generally friendly locals.

For top quality family life, expats tend to head to New Zealand, while those who move to China enjoy the highest earnings of any expat in the world. In terms of cost-effective living, Thailand and Vietnam came out on top, which suggests that these countries remain attractive to wealthy westerners hoping to see their money stretch further.

The survey also found that 47% of current expats have previously lived abroad on at least one occasion, which suggests that once you have been bitten by the expat bug, it is pretty hard to shake off.

And for those would-be expats hoping to find work in another country, perhaps you should try your hand at banking, insurance and financial services – the HSBC survey found that 17% of those expats polled worked in these sectors, which was more than any other occupation. Second was education (11% of those polled), while 9% work in IT, telecoms, construction and engineering, and 8% work in marketing, the media and creative industries.