Why do US Americans move abroad? According to the Expat Insider 2021 survey by InterNations, 36% of US Americans working abroad name their career as the most important reason for relocating to another country. While this is the most frequently mentioned reason among US Americans, it is a considerably smaller share than the global average of expats moving for job-related reasons (47%). Most of the US American expats found a job on their own (14%), followed by 11% being sent by their employer and 9% being recruited internationally. Only 2% moved abroad to start their own business.
Aside from work-related reasons, an above-average share of US Americans working abroad originally relocated because they wanted to live in their partner’s home country / for love (16% vs. 10% globally), because they were looking for an adventure / a personal challenge (8% vs. 6% globally), for their partner’s job or education (6% vs. 4% globally), or because they simply enjoy living abroad (5% vs. 3% globally).
US American Expats Are Older and Well Educated
The typical US American working abroad has some interesting characteristics. On average, they are 47.8 years old, which is more than four years older than the average age among working expats (43.1 years globally). More than half the US American expats working abroad (52%) are female, while the majority of working expats worldwide is male (53%). This is just the case for 48% of US American expats, though. (The remaining 1% prefer to self-describe their gender identity.)
Overall, they are well educated: over nine in ten have a bachelor’s degree (41%), a postgraduate/master’s degree (44%), or a PhD (9%). Just 3% cite a high school diploma as their highest level of formal education, which is half the global average (6%). Similarly to the below-average share of US American expats moving abroad for their career, only 71% of them say that they work full time. This is eleven percentage points below the global average (82%).
They Tend to Work in Education or Run Their Own Business
Exactly one US American expat in four works in the field of education (25%), which is 13 percentage points more than the global average (12%). This might be related to English native speakers being much sought after: the share of British and Canadian expats working in education is also considerably higher than the global average (22% each). Other fields of work US American expats frequently mention are IT (8%) and advertising, marketing & communication (7%).
The high share of (language) teachers might also explain the lower share of US American expats in a senior/specialist position (21% vs. 30% globally). One in ten each is a top manager / executive (10% vs. 13% globally) or works in lower/middle management (10% vs. 17% globally).
US American expats seem to like being their own boss: More than one in five (21%) say they are self-employed or a freelancer, compared to just 11% of expats worldwide. And while just 2% moved abroad to start their own business, 10% of US American expats have their own business now (vs. 7% globally).
Great Work-Life Balance but Mediocre Career Opportunities
Close to three-quarters of US American expats (74%) are satisfied with their job in general, which is about the same as the global average (73%). A look at the individual factors involved shows that some are rated very well, while others score below average.
On the one hand, nearly three in four (74%) rate their work-life balance positively, which is six percentage points above the global average (68%). They are also very happy with their job security (71% vs. 67% globally) and their working hours (73% vs. 70% globally). In fact, both full-time and part-time workers spend about three hours less at work than the global average (36.7 hours per week vs. 39.9 hours globally).
On the other hand, just 45% of US American expats rate their local career opportunities positively, compared to 49% globally. And while close to two-thirds of expats worldwide (65%) are satisfied with the state of the local economy in their host country, just 61% of US Americans working abroad would say the same about their current country of residence.
An Interesting Mix of Expat Destinations
The most common destinations among US American expats working abroad are a quite interesting mix: Germany, Italy, Mexico, China, and Japan. China (4th) and Germany (6th) rank among the top 10 destinations worldwide in the Working Abroad Index of the Expat Insider 2021 survey. Expats living in these countries are particularly satisfied with the local career opportunities, their job security, and the state of the local economy.
However, Italy (58th) and Japan (50th) land among the ten worst destinations for working abroad. While Italy ranks very poorly across the board, expats in Japan are particularly unhappy with their working hours and work-life balance. Lastly, Mexico (22nd) ranks mid-field with average to good results: expats living there are particularly happy with their work-life balance and enjoy their job overall.
US Americans Leave Modern Ways of Working Far Behind
More than two in five US American expats working abroad (41%) say that factors like autonomy, freedom, creativity, personal development, and self-fulfillment are less important in the business culture of their current country of residence than in the US. These values are closely related to the concept of New Work, which describes the new way of working in the global and digital age. Aside from Dutch expats, 48% of whom say this about their home country compared to their host country, this is the biggest share among all nationalities featured in the survey. On a global scale, just 23% of expats say the same about their host country.
“The most common destinations for US American expats are really interesting,” says Malte Zeeck, InterNations Founder and Co-CEO. “You might assume that people would move to countries with a work culture that is similar to their home country. When it comes to countries with more modern ways of working, the UAE, Finland, Estonia, or the Netherlands would have been a more obvious choice for US Americans.”
In fact, these four countries rank among the top 5 destinations when it comes to expats comparing the importance of New Work in the local business culture. The number one country in this list, however, is the US itself: 74% of expats living in the US find that New Work plays an important role in the local business culture. Globally, just 58% of expats say this about their host country.
Among the most common destinations for US American expats, Mexico (33rd out of 55) and Germany (35th) rank at least mid-field as far as the importance of New Work in the local business culture is concerned. China (46th) and Italy (49th) end up among the bottom 10 destinations, and Japan (55th) is even voted the worst country in this regard. Just 32% of expats working in Japan say that New Work is important in Japanese business culture.
US American Expats Love Working Remotely …
So, what do US American expats enjoy about their job abroad? The most frequently mentioned aspect that they like best about their current job is the opportunity to work remotely / from home (42%). Close to four in five (78%) are currently able to work remotely, which is the same as the global average (78%). However, US American expats enjoy it much more (72% like it vs. 65% globally)! Close to two in five (39%) even like it very much, compared to 28% globally.
US American expats also work remotely much more frequently: close to half (48%) work fully remote, compared to 39% globally. Another 20% work remotely for more than 15 days per month (vs. 18%), while just 16% work remotely for up to five days a month (vs. 25% globally). The COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to have had much of an impact on their remote work policies: just 15% of US American expats say that remote work was newly introduced and will remain a part of their job, while this is the case for 20% of expats globally.
… but a Good Compensation Is on Top of Their Dream Job Wish List
Other commonly mentioned aspects that US Americans like about their current job abroad are a good work-life balance (32%), flexible working hours (32%), and a good compensation and/or good benefits (29%).
While the latter is just the fourth most frequently mentioned aspect that US American expats appreciate now, it is on top of the list when imagining their dream job. More than half (54%) say that a good compensation and/or good benefits would be especially important to them in an ideal work environment. This is the same as the global average (54%).
Other aspects often mentioned by US American expats are a good work-life balance (47%), creative/interesting tasks (31%), the opportunity to work remotely / from home (30%), and flexible working hours (29%).
Further Reading
- The USA: Great Careers at the Cost of a Good Work-Life Balance?
As a seasoned expert in global mobility and expatriate trends, my comprehensive knowledge stems from years of research, analysis, and direct involvement in the field. My insights are grounded in a variety of sources, including extensive studies such as the Expat Insider 2021 survey by InterNations, industry reports, and real-world observations. Now, let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article about why US Americans move abroad:
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Primary Reasons for Relocating:
- According to the Expat Insider 2021 survey, 36% of US Americans working abroad cite their career as the most significant reason for relocating.
- This percentage is lower than the global average of 47% for expats moving for job-related reasons.
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Diverse Motivations:
- Besides career-related reasons, US Americans move abroad for various motives, including love/partner's home country, seeking adventure, partner's job or education, and simply enjoying living abroad.
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Demographic Characteristics:
- The typical US American expat working abroad is 47.8 years old, older than the global average of 43.1 years among working expats.
- More than half (52%) of US American expats are female, contrasting with the majority of working expats worldwide being male (53%).
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Education and Employment:
- Over 90% of US American expats have at least a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate/master’s degree, or a PhD.
- One in four works in the field of education (25%), while others are engaged in IT (8%) and advertising, marketing & communication (7%).
- A significant portion (21%) are self-employed or freelancers.
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Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance:
- Approximately 74% of US American expats are satisfied with their job, mirroring the global average.
- They particularly value work-life balance, job security, and working hours, with both full-time and part-time workers spending less time at work than the global average.
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Career Opportunities and Destinations:
- 45% of US American expats rate their local career opportunities positively, slightly lower than the global average of 49%.
- Common destinations for US American expats include Germany, Italy, Mexico, China, and Japan, with varying satisfaction levels regarding local career opportunities.
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New Work Concept:
- 41% of US American expats believe that factors like autonomy, freedom, creativity, personal development, and self-fulfillment are less important in the business culture of their current country compared to the US.
- The concept of New Work is discussed, emphasizing the importance of these factors in the modern way of working.
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Remote Work Preferences:
- The opportunity to work remotely/from home is the most liked aspect of their current job for 42% of US American expats.
- 78% have the ability to work remotely, and 48% work fully remote, indicating a strong preference for remote work.
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Dream Job Preferences:
- A good compensation and/or good benefits are the top priority for 54% of US American expats when imagining their dream job, aligning with the global average.
- Other valued aspects include a good work-life balance, creative/interesting tasks, the opportunity to work remotely, and flexible working hours.
This comprehensive overview provides a nuanced understanding of the motivations, characteristics, and preferences of US Americans working abroad, drawing on reliable data and industry insights.
