Inquiry reveals world's most popular work destinations

In a recent survey conducted by BCG, The Network, and The Stepstone Group, 150,000 people from 188 countries participated. Topping the list of destinations are regions with competitive economies where the official language is English. Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are the top five most desirable countries for employment. Following the top five are Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, France, and Spain. Among cities, London emerged as the leader, followed by Amsterdam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New York, Berlin, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Motivation lies in the paycheck

Despite recent global challenges such as political tensions, economic crises, and the pandemic, 23% of professionals actively seek jobs in another country, with 63% expressing a general willingness to do so. The survey indicates that talents move abroad primarily for professional advancement, with financial and economic reasons (cited by 64% of respondents) also playing a significant role. Respondents who cited a specific reason for choosing a particular country ranked the quality of job opportunities as the top decisive factor (65%), followed by quality of life and climate (54%). Employees also expect employers to assist them with relocation and settling-in processes—almost eight out of ten respondents expect assistance with housing-related matters (79%).

Addressing labor shortage

Residents of regions with higher labor competition due to higher birth rates tend to be more mobile than those living in areas where the workforce is shrinking. For example, 64% of workers in the Middle East and Africa are actively willing to relocate, and over half of respondents from South Asia (58%) and Africa (52%) are willing to move for work. At the other end of the spectrum are North America (16%) and Europe (10%).

"We face a significant challenge in society: labor shortages. This problem emerging in the global labor market is mainly due to declining birth rates and increasing job offers and demand," said Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of The Stepstone Group. "Labor migration is a good opportunity to overcome this problem. We need to diversify our labor markets, allowing employees to move where they are most needed and where they find jobs that match their skills."

Foreign labor brings success

Hiring foreigners not only fills job vacancies but also contributes to company's success. Firms with international diversity among their employees are more innovative and successful. A recent analysis by BCG found that these companies earn higher profits and are 75% more likely to be innovative. Additionally, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute, the quality of life for individuals who move abroad for work is on average 9% better after relocation.

About the survey

BCG, The Network (along with affiliate organizations), and The Stepstone Group conducted an anonymous online survey from October to December 2023. In total, 150,735 individuals from 188 countries participated in the survey. The published study is titled "Decoding Global Talent 2024" and is the fourth consecutive installment in a series, with previous editions released in 2014, 2018, and 2021. CVKeskus.ee is part of The Network group.