A new study from software firm Kisi has identified the top 10 cities for work-life balance, but you won’t find the U.S. on it.
Taking into account factors such as flexible work options, vacation days, paid parental leave, safety, and healthcare access, the study was able to show which regions best suited a healthy work-life balance.
Kisi also noted each region’s air quality, amount of outdoor space, and inflation.
The top 10 cities for work-life balance around the world included:
- Oslo, Norway
- Bern, Switzerland
- Helsinki, Finland
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Ottawa, Canada
- Sydney, Australia
- Stuttgart, Germany
- Munich, Germany
Oslo ranked first thanks to its booming job market in the life sciences, IT, and energy and environmental industries.
Data from Kisi estimates that workers in Oslo take an average of 25 vacation days a year and get 707 days of parental leave.
Seattle was the top ranked U.S. city for work-life balance at 32, while six out of the top ten were located in Europe. German cities also made up around one-third of the top 30.
The noticeable gap U.S. cities have left reveals exactly what needs to be done in order to compete with other regions for top talent.
Now that employees have the ability to work from anywhere, many are taking advantage of digital nomad visas in countries that are known for their cheaper cost of living and work-life balance.
