According to the Randstad Workmonitor, for the third quarter, almost two-thirds of employees would consider emigrating to improve their career and work-life balance.
The study reveals that 64% would consider emigrating if it could improve their career and work-life balance. And 79% admit they enjoy working with people from other cultures. In this scenario, the United States of America (USA) emerges as the preferred foreign country to work in, followed by Germany and Australia, seen as destination countries for many migrants.
The latest Randstad Workmonitor also highlights that career development is an important factor in people's lives, as 64% of global respondents would consider emigrating to improve their careers, along with work-life balance. However, 54% say they would rather change careers than emigrate. Salary is also a factor: 59% of respondents are willing to emigrate for a substantially higher salary.
major regional differences
When analyzing by region, it becomes clear that people from India are most willing to emigrate—for any purpose, according to over 90%—while the Dutch appear to be the least inclined to leave their home country (on average, 37%). A substantially higher salary (91%) is the main reason for emigrating for respondents from India, while this factor does not appear to be a relevant motivation for the Japanese (35%). Furthermore, the search for a meaningful career may lead people from India to emigrate (92%), a much less important factor for Austrians (30%).
where do people want to work?
Through the question "If you had to work abroad, would you prefer to work in...", the Mobility Index identified the top three preferred countries to work in: 1) the United States of America, 2) Germany, and 3) Australia. From the results, it can be concluded that most respondents prefer to stay close to their home region or live in a country where people speak their native language, which influences their migration decisions. Respondents from Japan, however, appear to prefer the English-speaking countries : 1) the USA, 2) the United Kingdom, and 3) Australia, which are considered popular migration destinations.
the most and least adept at mobility
Regarding mobility , it is clear that for people in the Netherlands (48%) or Denmark (50%), it is not necessary to work within walking or cycling distance of their homes, but people in Turkey (84%) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (82%) consider this a priority. However, interesting work is considered valuable, and in this case, 69% of respondents are willing to travel, which may impact migration to their destination country. The desire to travel is highest in China (92%), while Denmark has the lowest (49%), reflecting different demographic factors. However, 58% of respondents make no secret of their desire to travel internationally for work . Indians are the most eager to do so (91%), while the Dutch do not seem to feel this need (31%).
diversity is valued
Randstad Workmonitor also reveals that, internally, 72% of professionals consider it beneficial for their employer to hire foreign workers if the "domestic" workforce cannot provide the necessary skills and/or knowledge. And up to 64% consider it beneficial for their employer to attract people from abroad to cover the employee shortage .
This has a positive impact, as 79% of global respondents enjoy working with people from other cultures. This is viewed most positively in India and Mexico (95% and 94%, respectively) and least positively in Japan and the Czech Republic (44% and 47%, respectively).
in terms of quarterly observations, the following also stand out:
- The number of employees worldwide expecting to work for a different employer in the next six months rose slightly in the second quarter and has now increased again, pushing the Mobility Index to 114. Mobility increased most in Italy and the US (+7), Greece and China (+6), Australia (+5), and Spain, Austria, France, and Brazil (all +4), indicating an increase in migration. It decreased in Switzerland and Argentina (-4) and Germany (-2). There is no change in mobility in Canada and Sweden.
- Actual job turnover increased in Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United Kingdom compared to the previous quarter. No country saw a decrease in actual job turnover. In India, this indicator stands at 61% and in Luxembourg at 10%.
- The desire to change jobs increased in Canada, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands compared to the last quarter, suggesting an increase in migratory mobility. In Argentina, Belgium, and Spain, the desire to change jobs decreased, which may affect the migration of skilled professionals. The highest percentage again belongs to India (54%) and the lowest to Turkey (16%).
- Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Romania, and the United Kingdom, but decreased in Canada, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In India and Japan—where job satisfaction is highest and lowest, respectively—it increased by 1%, to 86% and 42%.
All these findings show that professionals increasingly value work-life balance, meaningful career opportunities, and cultural diversity. For companies, this means rethinking not only their talent attraction strategies but also their retention policies. In a time when the global workforce knows no borders, organizations that strengthen the employee experience will be the true winners of the future.