A survey from the Health Insurance provider AXA PPP International has reported the main drivers behind British emigration abroad. Poor work / life balance and poor pay and benefits were cited as the main drivers for leaving the UK. Other push factors included climate and the economic outlook of the UK. The results show that quality of life is a key consideration for British migrants and they are willing to relocate overseas to achieve it.
Andrew Coombs – Managing Director of AXA PPP International commented that:
Many of today’s aspiring expats will be relocating with their partners and children and their perceived dissatisfaction with life in the UK and their ambition for a better quality of life are driving their considerations.
The study also found that 45% of British were emigrating with children, 13% were emigrating on their own. 61% had a job in place prior to moving, therefore 39% do not.
The survey also found that 75% of those relocating are planning to learn the new language of their host country. Learning the language can significantly assist with settling in and to reduce culture shock. Many organisations when relocating employees will provide language classes and assistance to help expats settle in.
It was also reported that 43% of those surveyed plan to socialise. Socialising and meeting new people can also greatly enhance a new migrants experience of settling in and can help them to start to build a support network in their new home.
A survey undertaken on our own website found that work was also the main reason for moving abroad.
This information correlates with the Office of National Statistics data (ONS) which has published the following information, noting that work-related reasons are the main reasons for migration out of the UK:
Main Reasons for Migration out of the UK : Source: ONS based on the year ending June 2013
188K – work related
33K – accompany family
18K formal study
35K other
46K no reason stated
The ONS Long-term International Migration Nov 2013 report also found that in 2012, the most common reason to emigrate was job related and 73% of those moving due to a job moved to a non-EU country.
It is worth noting that UK emigration is currently at its lowest level in a decade according to the ONS. In total 320,000 left in the year June 2012 – June 2013 (ONS Long-term International Migration statistics – November 2013). This is a fall of 29,000 compared to the previous year.
Out of the 320,000 emigrants, 141k were British, 50k were from old and new commonwealth countries, 74k from EU countries and 51k from other countries.
The main countries that British migrants move to have varied during the last decade or so although Australia, USA and France have consistently been in the top five. The information below compares the top 5 emigration destinations from the UK in 1992 with 2013:
1992 – 2013 Top 5 destinations for UK migrants
Top 5 in 1992 1) USA 2) Australia 3) Germany 4) France 5) New Zealand
Top 5 in 2012 1) Australia 2) USA 3) India 4) China 5) France
