Better work/life balance driving people to live abroad
New adventures, better work/life balance and career opportunities driving people to live abroad
Despite an initial bedding in process, expats are there to stay and loving life, reveals new research from AXA PPP International.
Those looking to improve life satisfaction should consider moving abroad it seems, with over half of expatriates (56 percent) saying they have no intention of going home. Just two percent of expats are there for the short term and actually have a date set to return home. On average, 60 percent said the move lived up to all of their expectations, with 38 percent saying it had lived up to some of their expectations.
Typically, the drivers for moving abroad for expats included the search of a new adventure (56 percent), a better work/life balance (40 percent) and better weather (37 percent). Other motivations referenced included better career opportunities (17 percent), better healthcare (16 percent) or having always wanting to live in that area of the world (32 percent).
However, despite the high life satisfaction, adjusting to life in a new country was not easy for all. While 76 percent found settling in an easy or enjoyable process, 22 percent admitted they found it difficult to settle, build a social life or get to grips with local laws. Of those that found it easy or enjoyable, 13 percent had attributed it to the preparations made beforehand.
