Third of Britons 'Considering Emigrating'
By Nicky Burridge, Personal Finance Correspondent, PA News
An additional six million Britons will be living or working abroad by 2020 as increasing numbers of people consider emigrating, research claimed today.
A third of people are currently considering moving overseas, with 39% looking for a better quality of life, according to Alliance & Leicester International.
Around 38% of people are keen to move to another country to gain new experiences, while 25% are looking for a new challenge.
An estimated one million Britons have currently retired abroad, while around 850,000 are working in Europe, the US and Canada.
During the next 16 years a further two million are expected to move abroad to work, while four million will retire abroad.
The group said reducing stress was a key trigger for many people considering emigration, and as a result countries which placed a greater emphasis on leisure and a good quality of life, such as Canada, Australia and Scandinavia, were becoming increasingly attractive to Britons.
The report, which was carried out with the Centre of Future Studies said a rise in overseas holidays, combined with with the strong pound and booming UK property market had also led to an increase in the number of people buying homes abroad.
Simon Hall, managing director of Alliance & Leicester International, said: “Emigration clearly is seen as a fresh start allowing people to reinvent their lifestyles and, with luck, themselves too.
“It does seem to suggest a level of dissatisfaction with existing lifestyles, such as excessive stress in the workplace coupled with a negative impact on personal relationships and happiness.”
He added that while countries such as Spain, the US, Australia and Canada would remain popular, other countries such as India, China, Russia, Indonesia and Brazil would also become more economically attractive.
The research was based on responses from 2,000 people questioned by BMRB during September 2003 and a further 1,000 responses to an internet survey.
There's no lack of raw materil for mass migration!! |
