Posts Tagged ‘surveys’

‘Life is Better Abroad’ Overseas Residents Claim

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

In the last five years, over 500,000 Britons have left the country to pursue careers and lifestyles overseas, new data shows. The overwhelming majority appear to agree that lifestyles, income, and happiness all improve when sent on an overseas placement or assignment. Glenelg ( Adelaide, South Australia ) sunset by Linh_rOm.

While overseas removals saw a slight dip in demand during the recent recession, British expatriates seem to have little interest in returning home. Popular expat countries include Spain, New Zealand, and the Australia, all of which ranked highly in approval from British travellers and expatriates across the world.

However, it’s not all enjoyment and free time overseas. British residents of Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates were less pleased with their foreign lifestyle than many others. Data suggests that those in countries with limited populations and developed economies tend to be happier than residents of countries with booming populations.

Just 19 percent of Britain’s expats intend to return home at some point. Overseas removals are a popular option for expatriates aiming to reduce the cost of a move overseas – by keeping your current possessions, the cost of replacing furniture and electrical goods in a new country decreases significantly.



Survey: 90% of expats are happier abroad

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

When it comes to living abroad, it seems the grass really is greener.

Nine out of ten expatriates say their quality of life has improved – earning more and enjoying better conditions than they would have in Britain.

On average, pay for managers and professionals who choose to work abroad is up to £20,000 higher than they would get here.

The findings from a study by NatWest underline the reasons why emigration among Britons has reached record highs. It suggests that the attractions for talented and able workers of quitting Britain are strengthening during the recession as private sector wages stagnate and public services threaten to deteriorate.

More than 200,000 British citizens sought overseas removals to live abroad in 2006, followed by another 169,000 in 2007. But in 2007 only 75,000 Britons who had been living or working in a foreign country chose to return – again a record low.

The bank’s Quality of Life report said that 19 per cent of those working abroad currently intend to come back to Britain at some time, down from more than a quarter, 26 per cent, two years ago.

It said: ‘When it comes to living and working overseas the advantages come thick and fast. Working hours are far less intensive and expats say they manage to achieve a better work/life balance with much more leisure time. Professional expats can earn significantly more than their peers back home. On average an expat professional’s salary is up to £20,000 higher than their UK counterparts.’

One comment on the survey, from a British expat, summed up the feeling for many disillusioned Brits:

Of course most people are glad to have left otherwise they would come back…

“People are building lives for themselves and are sick of the UK where your tax money goes towards building a life for those who sit on their backside and contribute nothing to society (and maintain the same lifestyle as you do) rather than building the amazing society that the UK could have…”



Quality of life in Britain described as ‘poor’

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Life in the UK consists of debts, rising taxes, bad weather and a lot of possessions that you don’t really need, according to one website, which suggests moving abroad as an alternative. Discussing the recent advent of ‘Blue Monday’, the day on which Brits are said to feel the most miserable, Shelter Offshore has outlined some reasons why it may be a good idea to move elsewhere.

“To get to a position in life where you can feel truly happy, you need to find personal satisfaction,” the website advises, adding that for many, this may be as simple as relocating to a country where the sun shines a little more often.

It added that there is no point in remaining stuck in a rut “contemplating your darkest emotions”, when there is a world of opportunity waiting for you.

Another reason why Brits may want to move abroad at the moment, at least for a little while, is the current rate of unemployment.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that more people than ever currently work part-time hours – suggesting that many are settling for a lower income due to the recession and are also looking for overseas removals.



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