RELOCATING FOR WORK

It is evident that many people have been required to change locations in order to find work, a more suitable job, or to advance their career.

Mass migration and the breakdown of international barriers to movement of human capital have enabled scores of people to use their vocation as the means to travel and find a new home.

Many more have relocated within their home country to a different city or region, underlining the fact that employment mobility is both a necessity for some as well as a means of allowing the labour market to function efficiently.

On average, 42% of people say that they have previously relocated to a different city for work.

In addition to those who have moved within their own country for work, approximately 21% say that they have made the shift to a different country for a job.

And, perhaps most challenging, 15% say they have moved to a country, where they did not fluently speak the local language, for the purposes of work.

There are many skills that are in high demand globally and easily transferable across borders.  Skills in areas such as IT, science, engineering, finance and customer service have become highly globalised with many large organizations recruiting internationally or locating facilities in international locations that secure the greatest competitive advantage.

A high degree of mobility is good for employees because it enables them to pursue more rewarding jobs, while for employers it means that they are able to respond more quickly to changing demand for products and services.
Moving to a different city for work can be a major change.  Shifting to another country is an even greater professional and lifestyle challenge but one that many people are keen to take. 

What is clear from the latest analysis is that employees are willing to consider shifting both in-country and internationally to find the right work.