Britain’s globetrotting expats are most likely to be families starting a new life in Europe, according to new research.
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Nearly half of all expats (45%) are families with children and many have no job offers when they arrive in their new home.
Up to 40% emigrate on a wing and a prayer from Britain says the study by health insurance firm AXA PPP International.
The results of the research show a reverse in fortunes for expats over the past five years, as then expats were more likely to be singles looking to cash in on a tax-free job offer.
Now, only 13% of expats fall into that category.
Expat gripes
Other revelations disclosed by the survey include:
- 37% of expats want to stay within Europe
- 17% are fed up with their quality of life in Britain
- 17% felt they had a poor work/life balance in Britain
- 10% are seeking a better sunshine climate
- 9% are looking for a home with a better performing economy
Although Asia fits the bill for many of these expat gripes with Britain, less than a third consider moving there.
But popular expat destinations like Portugal, Spain and Greece, where the economies are poorer than in Britain, are still the main places for expats to consider when they move abroad.
Many expats are not planning to integrate with their new communities, as one in four have no plans to learn the local language and 57% do not have any intentions of socialising with locals.
Odd destination choices
Andrew Coombs, the firm’s managing director, pointed out that despite expats harbouring discontent about the British economy and lifestyle, instead of heading for emerging markets that fulfil all their requirements for moving, most look to European countries with worse economic opportunities than those in Britain.
“Five years ago, most of the expats we talked to travelled as singles and were motivated by money,” he said.
“Expats today are different. They are more likely to travel with their spouses and children and are moving because they are dissatisfied with their lives in Britain
“Experience would tell us that whatever their reason for moving, a third of expats come back to Britain for some reason, including financial problems, because they are homesick or an inability to cope with the local culture.”
He advises that families uprooting from Britain should check out their destination thoroughly before moving permanently.
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