1 in 2 young professionals seeking to work overseas: survey

Over 1 in 10 wants to move out “as soon as possible,” Robert Walters Hong Kong found.

1 in 2 of Hong Kong’s young professionals are considering or planning to move out of the city, according to a survey by Robert Walters Hong Kong.

51% of those aged between 27 and 42 are seeking to move out of the city, compared to 38% of those aged between 43 to 58 years old. 

Whilst the desire to work overseas and gain international experience is nothing new, it is concerning that such a large number of Hong Kong professionals want to leave the city, said John Mullally, managing director at Robert Walters Hong Kong.

"As employers, we need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to retain our top talent, and this means offering opportunities for growth and development, as well as competitive compensation and benefits packages,” Mullally said.

Overall, of the 107 professionals surveyed, 15.6% expressed a desire to move as soon as possible, whilst 36.7% were considering a move in the next 3-5 years.

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Almost all are preparing to work abroad.
Almost all, or a whopping 96% of professionals eyeing to move overseas, have already undertaken tactics to prepare for working abroad.

Six in 10 or 60% of respondents are looking for positions in a multinational company, and 4 in 10 (40%) are already applying for overseas jobs.

Meanwhile, 1 in 3 (31%) are upskilling, training, or studying.

Others are looking for internal mobility opportunities (27%) and are even looking to switch careers (27%). 
"On the positive side it is impressive to see professionals' desire to gain international exposure in today's globalised and competitive world. This can help them develop a broader vision, a stronger determination, and a richer network, which are valuable assets for any business,” Mullally said.

Retaining talent
When asked what they value most in their career, 1 in 3 or 31% of respondents named job security over compensation and benefits (29%) as their first priority.

Professionals also care most about career progression, team culture and then internal mobility, which are essential for their personal and professional growth.

"Moving abroad is not an easy decision. If what professionals want is to gain international experience for career growth or broaden their minds, there are employers that can facilitate this,” Mullally said.