UK employees least interested in working abroad

While new research has shown that Germany (21%), United Kingdom (15%) and France (12%) top the list of the most desirable destinations to work in, UK employees are the least interested in working abroad.

That’s according to a new study by talent management firm ADP, which surveyed nearly 10,000 working adults across Europe to consider how employees feel about the future of work, international competitiveness and talent management. The survey was conducted in July 2016, after the UK referendum vote to leave the EU.

However, there are major differences in the desire to work abroad across the different UK regions. While an overall 42% of UK workers would not consider working abroad, those from Northern Ireland are the most likely to seek international work (91%), followed by Londoners (77%), while over half (55%) of those from the North East aren’t interested at all.

European employees have a strong appetite for international work, as almost three-quarters (74%) would consider other countries for career opportunities, the study found.

Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK, said: “It is evident that Europeans have an appetite for international work. With the war for talent and broadening skills gaps being key challenges across the continent, it is essential that businesses and governments work to ensure a more international workforce can be accommodated and its benefits understood and appreciated by the endemic population.

“Encouraging cross-border movement of talent, while employing people from diverse backgrounds, is crucial for ensuring global competitiveness by accessing critical skills. Integrating that diversity into the workforce is important and can, if done well, form an additional means of stimulating engagement.”

The full list of most attractive countries for international work can be found in the report, The Workforce View in Europe 2017, available here: http://bit.ly/2kQFRMV