American Expats Trade in Happiness at the Expense of Career Growth

A recent report found that Americans are more likely to move abroad than their global counterparts for love or to seek out adventure. According to the report, 47% of global expats move abroad for their job, while only 36% of Americans say their primary reason for moving is job-related. 

American expats tend to work in education, IT, marketing, advertising, and communications. Interestingly, Americans are more likely to work as freelancers vs their global counterparts. 

While this gives them more freedom to set their schedules and they report better work-life balance, the report argues that American expats could be trading happiness at the expense of career growth. Only 45% of American expats rate their local career opportunities favorably. 

Internations CEO Malte Zeec told CNBC that “relocating internationally could result in a career stall, if not setback, if the worker has to overcome a language barrier, navigate a limited local job market or figure out how their educational qualifications translate to a new country.”