Three out of four Swiss willing to work abroad
More than 75% of Swiss workers would be willing to move to another country for work, according to a survey of over 4,000 Swiss job seekers. English-speaking countries are the preferred destinations of choice for a career move.
According to a worldwide surveyExternal link of more than 200,000 job seekers conducted by The Boston Consulting Group and The Network, a global alliance of recruiting websites, the proportion of Swiss job seekers ready to move abroad for work is higher than the global average of around 64%. With over 75% expressing their willingness to emigrate, the Swiss are one of the leaders in western Europe, behind only the French and the Dutch (both over 90%).
The top three desired work destinations for the 4,414 Swiss job seekers who took the survey include the United States (50%), Canada (44%) and the United Kingdom (44%). Neighbouring Germany, France and Austria also figure in the top ten preferred countries.
However, unlike the rest of the world, career opportunities and better living standards are not the main motivations for the Swiss wanting to work abroad. The opportunity to broaden personal experience and live in a different culture are the most important drivers for a career move overseas.
Switzerland ranks fifth overall in terms of countries where foreigners would like to work with 29% of survey respondents opting for it. Only the US (42%), UK (37%), Canada (35%) and Germany (33%) ranked higher.
Countries from which the largest number of workers would move to Switzerland for work include Bosnia and Herzegovina (60%), France (59%), Tunisia (57%), Serbia (57%) and Portugal (51%).
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