Skip to main content

9 in 10 building professionals consider abroad move, survey shows

Professionals are being lured abroad by the prospects of a career overseas, with nine in 10 (90.72%) of those working in the built environment sector considering a move. Research into professionals’ motivations to move abroad, conducted by specialist recruitment site CareerStructure.com, reveals the considerable appeal of working overseas. The prospect of greater salaries, better career opportunities and new experiences has encouraged most of the 1,564 professionals based all over the world who responded to
August 9, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
RSSProfessionals are being lured abroad by the prospects of a career overseas, with nine in 10 (90.72%) of those working in the built environment sector considering a move.

Research into professionals’ motivations to move abroad, conducted by specialist recruitment site 7444 CareerStructure.com, reveals the considerable appeal of working overseas.

The prospect of greater salaries, better career opportunities and new experiences has encouraged most of the 1,564 professionals based all over the world who responded to the CareerStructure.com survey to consider looking abroad for their next position. But, for half of professionals, the UK is simply becoming a less attractive place to work – with a perception of lower salaries and lacking workloads.

The locations with the most lure include Dubai (63%), closely followed by Abu Dhabi (61%) and Qatar (56%). This may be due to the perception that these countries offer the best salaries, and that there are more work prospects there. Indeed, six in 10 believe Qatar has more opportunities than the UK. These regions are closely followed by English-speaking countries, with professionals keen to work in Australia (48%), Canada (43%), the US (41%), and New Zealand (34%) being similarly appealing.  

Many professionals expressed an interest in moving to work on specific projects abroad – 55% would move to China to work on Sky City, and 68% would move to Singapore to work on The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.

For many, this would not be a mere short-term trip: even although two-thirds already have experience of working abroad, half would move abroad on a long term basis.

Top 5 reasons for relocating were, in descending order, higher salary, good career opportunities, experience, quality of life, and good employment benefits.

A total of 111 traffic and transport-related professionals from within the overall built environment sector survey sample group took part in the research. Again, more than nine out of 10 (96.4%) saying they were considering a move abroad.

Rob Searle, commercial director of CareerStructure.com, said, “Experience abroad can potentially boost professionals employment prospects, by providing them with new opportunities and experiences. However, with such high levels of professionals considering a move abroad, it’s apparent that the UK is losing its appeal and could now potentially be losing many of its talented professionals to other countries.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Czech Transport Ministry to consider car-sharing scheme
    April 12, 2013
    The Czech Transport Ministry is considering the adoption of car-sharing scheme as one of the solutions to reduce traffic congestion and lack of parking spaces in towns and cities across the country. Research shows that one shared car could save between five to twenty parking spaces. According to the ministry's proposal for transport policy until 2020, a car-sharing system could be most beneficial when complemented by a combined public transport ticket. The Ministry is said to have been inspired by the car-s
  • LiuGong embraces Industry 4.0
    November 27, 2018
    LiuGong chairman Zeng Guang’an says that the firm is fully embracing Industry 4.0 technology. Coupled with ongoing machine development, an expanding global sales and manufacturing network and long-established strong relationships with customers and suppliers, this is enabling the Chinese construction equipment giant to target RMB 50 billion (US$7.18bn) operating revenue by 2025. Chairman Zeng outlined the impressive scale of LiuGong’s future ambitions during an impassioned speech in front of an audi
  • IRF releases 2023 calendar of events
    December 8, 2022
    IRF will once again showcase its global convening power with major regional conferences in North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean in 2023.
  • Bids for the Construction of The New Abu Dhabi - Dubai Main Road
    April 23, 2012
    Contractors across the globe are being invited to bid for the contract to build the new main road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi says the E311 aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the current E11 main road connecting the two emirates. It will also create new entrances to the city of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi International Airport, and Yas and Saadiyat Islands. The E311 project is one of the biggest infrastructure projects that Abu Dhabi DoT is working on as part of