New expats moving for fun, not work

The joys of overseas living are increasingly the reason why Brits become expats

A recent survey by international networking forum InterNations has found that 17 per cent of the 11,500 expats polled said they moved countries because they enjoy living abroad.

While this percentage was lower than the 34 per cent who emigrated for work, the gap has narrowed – particularly when compared to more established expats. A similar poll by insurer Axa PPP of 1,000 people who have lived abroad for more than two years found that more than half moved because of their career.

The results suggest that work opportunities, while still the most decisive factor when relocating, are no longer the overriding reason why people seek a new life overseas.

The InterNations poll of new expats discovered that 10 per cent of those polled wanted to set up a new business overseas, while a second poll revealed that of those planning on moving abroad, 31 per cent felt compelled to expand their horizons because they believe they too would enjoy a life overseas.

Axa’s poll yielded even more telling results. Of the 1,000 settled expats, only eight per cent said they were motivated to move in order to improve their quality of life, while just five per cent sought to escape the drab British weather.

“Highlighting the change in rationale for moving, would-be expats cited dissatisfaction with quality of life in the UK – with poor work/life balance (17 per cent), poor pay and benefits (13 per cent), climate (10 per cent) and poor economic outlook (nine per cent) ranking as the main reasons – whereas 52 per cent of their established counterparts left the UK behind for the lure of new career opportunities,” said an Axa PPP spokesman.