Fewer Indian professionals interested in jobs abroad, finds survey

NEW DELHI: A survey conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found a decrease in the number of Indians willing to work abroad. As per the survey, the number of respondents from India willing to relocate dropped from 78% in 2018 to 54% in 2023. More than 1,5 lakh working professionals from 188 countries participated in the fourth global study on ‘International Mobility Trends’, which was conducted by BCG, the Network, and the Stepstone Group.

The survey mentioned that 59% Indian respondents, who were unwilling to relocate to a different country for work, cited a strong emotional attachment to their country. The global average was 33%. As many as 23% participants are actively seeking jobs in other countries, and 63 percent expressing an overall willingness to do so, the survey read.

English-speaking geographies with strong economies lead the list of top destinations, with Australia, the US, Canada and the UK being the four most desirable countries, and London topping the list of cities, with New York also placing in the top five.”

India has improved its ranking as a preferred destination by 6 points over the last five years. Bengaluru and Delhi continue to be preferred destinations for those willing to work in India but their overall ranking among global cities has gone down.

Ahmedabad has entered the top 100 global cities for the first time since the report was first launched in 2018.

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Reasons for relocating

The survey said globally talent moves to foreign countries primarily for professional progress. As per the findings, 64% respondents cited financial and economic reasons for relocating while 56% mentioned career considerations such as work experience as the top reason.

“For respondents who listed a specific reason for choosing a particular country, the quality of job opportunities was the top decisive factor (65%), with quality of life and climate ranking second (54 percent),” the survey said.

Other country-specific characteristics such as opportunities for citizenship (18%) and health care (15 percent) also play a role but are secondary factors, it added. “Younger respondents and professionals with fast-growing populations are the most mobile,” the survey read.