Ten Best Countries For An Expat Career

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Ten Best Countries For An Expat Career

More than one in three expats mention their job or business as their most important reason for relocating. 15 per cent moved abroad because they found a job on their own, and 13 per cent were sent abroad by their employer.

Not all destinations where expats are particularly satisfied with their individual career options are rated just as positively for the state of the local economy. While countries such as Luxembourg, Taiwan, the UK or the USA do well with regard to both factors, this is not necessarily the case for the top ten career-boosting destinations, according to research by InterNations.

1. United States of America

The United States has the best career prospects for expats, where 70 per cent of respondents rate this factor positively. Seven in ten expats also judge the state of the local economy favourably, compared to a global average of 56 per cent. Even though the USA is among the top ten countries to start a new job and build a career, working expats pay a price if they choose to live and work in this country: the USA has poor rankings when it comes to work-life balance.

2. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is in second position for career opportunities, even surpassing the United States when it comes to working abroad in general. Over seven out of ten expats in the UK rate their overall job satisfaction positively. But over half of the respondents considered the local living expenses as a potential disadvantage before their move.

3. Taiwan

Taiwan is second in the world and comes third for career prospects in particular. A high percentage of expats feel positive about their individual job satisfaction and their job security in Taiwan, with more than eight in ten survey respondents judging each of these factors favourably.

4. Ecuador

Ecuador makes it to the top five countries for career prospects, with nearly six out of ten working expats in this country feeling positively about their options. Ecuador is also considered one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries worldwide. More than eight in ten expats describe the local attitude towards expats as generally friendly.

5. Romania

Romania takes a respectable fifth position for building a career abroad, overtaking Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, among others. In Romania, seven out of ten working expats rate their career options positively, and even more feel good about their overall job satisfaction. Nearly seven in ten expats considered the local cost of living as a potential benefit before moving there.

6. Australia

Australia does not only rank well for career prospects, but also for work-life balance: Almost seven in ten expats working in Australia rate their working hours positively. However, not everything is positive – 10 per cent of expats in Australia think that their disposable income is not nearly enough to cover daily expenses and 52 per cent of them are unhappy with the cost of living.

7. Vietnam

Vietnam does not only stand out when it comes to career prospects for expats, but also in terms of cost of living and personal finance. Nearly eight out of ten expats considered the cost of living in Vietnam as a potential benefit prior to moving there.

8. Colombia

Colombia has gained some significant advances when it comes to working abroad and is now featured among the best options for those who want to build a career in a foreign country. The country has drastically improved its results for job satisfaction and career opportunities. One in five expats considers their career options excellent and two-thirds are satisfied with their job.

9. Luxembourg

It is no surprise that Luxembourg is among the top ten countries with the best-rated career options for expats. Around eight in ten expats are generally happy with their work-life balance, job security and overall job satisfaction. Two-thirds also give their career prospects a favourable rating.

10. Mexico

With three out of four respondents rating their overall job satisfaction positively and 60 percent feeling satisfied with their career prospects, this destination has many perks to offer working expats.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.