Work, Italy is the 12th country in the world for attractiveness

More than half of professionals want to move abroad (63%) and nearly one in four (23%) are actively seeking work in other countries. These are some of the most significant data from the fourth edition of the Global Talent Surveythe survey on job mobility preferences at a global level, which involved 150 thousand people from over 180 countries.

Created by Boston Consulting Group, in collaboration with The Network and The Stepstone Group – with the results collected and analyzed in the study Decoding Global Talent 2024 -, the survey sees a small U-turn compared to other years. Suffice it to say that in 2018 the percentage of those who intended to move abroad was 78% and in 2020 it was 66%. But it still confirms the key role played by remote working and continuous technological evolution, as demonstrated by the data on active mobility, which rose to 23% in 2023, compared to 21% in 2018 and 2020.

Working abroad: Australia wins

But where do you want to move? Among the most attractive and most coveted countries, Australia takes first place, followed by the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. Given that it shows that English-speaking countries with strong economies continue to dominate the rankings. Immediately outside the podium we find several European countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, and some Asian destinations such as Japan and Singapore.

But what makes certain countries more attractive? Certainly professional progress, a reason specified by 68% of respondents who indicated Australia and 77% of those who indicated the USA. This is followed by factors such as quality of life, income and cost of living, security and stability, welcoming and inclusive culture, but also family-friendly environment, healthcare, innovation and digitalisation, so such as ease of access to visa and work permit processes, as Matteo Radice, Managing Director and Partner of Boston Consulting Group, also explains. “Among the reasons that push workers to move to another country, two important factors emerge: the quality of life and the quality of job opportunities. The latter must be classified differently than the salary tout court. In fact, around this theme there is the possibility of professional growth and learning applied to one’s skills – he says. Workers’ choices are increasingly guided by aspects of the employer value proposition that address more emotional needs than in the past. This also emerges from other research: the good corporate climate, the relationship with colleagues, the development of skills, flexibility in work organization, for example, are elements that did not have the same importance ten years ago”, adds Radice.

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Italy is 12th

Globally, Italy ranks 12th for overall work attractiveness, losing one position compared to 2020. In particular, the country is attractive for those coming from Argentina (19%), Egypt (11%), Morocco, Romania and Tunisia (10%). 72% of those who responded to the survey indicated quality of life as the main reason, followed by the quality of job opportunities and a welcoming and inclusive culture (45%), cost of living (34%) and family-friendly environment (33 %).

Italians also expect concrete support from their future employer. Specifically, 78% of interviewees expect assistance with accommodation, 63% with visa and work permits, as well as general relocation support, while 59% with language.

From the desire to improve one’s quality of life to the search for new professional prospects, the reasons that push talents to consider moving abroad are many and complex. There is clearly a need for concrete support from employers to facilitate this transition and guarantee professionals a satisfying experience. With an in-depth understanding of these dynamics and an active role of governments and institutions, the availability of talent mobility and the need of companies to attract the best can meet through effective strategies.

The percentage of Italians looking for work abroad is decreasing

The survey also covered a significant panel in Italy, equally distributed between men and women, with different levels of education, work background, employment status and housing situation. It turned out that the 15% is actively willing to work abroad. A figure that returns in line with the 17% of 2018, falling compared to the 57% of 2020, a year characterized by the Covid-19 pandemic and probably influenced by the same phenomenon.

Among young people, i.e. among respondents under 30 years of age, the percentage rises to 20% and, for Italians with a degree, master’s or doctorate, to 24%. The ideal destination for Italians remains Switzerland, followed by Spain, which gains interest by ousting the United Kingdom, then again by Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Austria and Holland.

Reasons such as concrete job offers (67%) and economic factors (66%) favor the move abroad, but also the improvement of the overall quality of life (62%) and personal growth (55%). Instead, for those who decide to stay in Italy, the main reason is the impossibility of bringing family and/or partners with them (54%), followed by the strong emotional bond with their country (26%) and the cost of relocation ( 25%).

The top 30 cities

Despite Brexit, London remains the most attractive city for working abroad, thanks to the widespread use of the language and the global network it represents. Followed by Amsterdam, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but in the top 30 cities there are also new entries such as Bangkok (17th place), Chicago (24th) and Athens (27th).

New York, in fifth place, moves up three spots from 2020. People from countries with a labor surplus, due to higher birth rates, tend to be more mobile than those living in areas with a shrinking workforce. For example, 64% of workers in the Middle East and Africa are actively willing to relocate. On the other hand, much lower percentages are observed in North America (16%) and Europe (10%). It is also interesting to note the emergence of a precise expectation on the part of workers with respect to their employers: 79% of those interviewed are confident, in fact, that they will receive support for accommodation, 78% for visas and work permits, 69% for relocation, 54% for linguistic adaptation and training and 44% for legal and financial advice.