Why Are Young Brits Moving Abroad for Work?

With rising rents, a weak job market and stretched pay packets, more young Britons are moving abroad for work.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 195,000 people under the age of 35 moved abroad in the year to June.

The data suggests a broader exodus of young, educated workers, driven by economic pressure and limited opportunities at home.

Many are heading to cities offering higher wages, lower living costs or better quality of life.

Ray Amjad is one of them. The 25-year-old from Manchester graduated from the University of Cambridge a few years ago and initially considered staying in the historic city.

Instead, he began travelling. Working remotely in web design, he visited 20 countries and realised he no longer saw a future for himself in the UK.

He moved to Tokyo in 2024 under a two-year visa for top graduates. He now hopes to apply for permanent residency in Japan.

Ray told the BBC: “In my experience, the UK is losing too many talented young people.

“Japan is getting a good deal, really – we’re moving out here, fully formed, and they haven’t had to pay for our education or healthcare, growing up.”

Many of his university friends have also left the UK, moving to countries like Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Ray says high living costs and a lack of employment opportunities were key factors behind their decisions.

He has also noticed a shift in who is moving abroad:

“Here in Tokyo, it used to be much older people who moved out here to work, but that has changed recently.”

Quality of life played a major role in his decision to leave the UK.

Ray added: “It feels much safer here. I can walk around and not worry about my phone being stolen. I can leave my laptop in a cafe for a while and it’s still going to be there.

“And the flat I’m renting would be three times the price in London.”

The ONS figures suggest Ray’s experience is far from unique. Three-quarters of British nationals who emigrated in the year ending June 2025 were under the age of 35.

However, the statistics body has recently changed how it estimates British migration. That makes comparisons with previous years difficult.

An ONS spokesperson said the age profile was not unexpected. They said the data was not surprising because most migrants tended to be young.

Financial experts say economic pessimism is pushing young people to look elsewhere.

David Little, a financial planning partner at UK wealth manager Evelyn Partners, said many were responding to what he described as an “increasingly negative economic narrative in the UK”.

He pointed to high unemployment, rising debt, growing tax burdens and fewer graduate vacancies as key drivers.

Dubai has emerged as a particularly popular destination.

Mr Little said the city had transformed into a global career hub for British workers.

Tax-free salaries, low crime rates and a strong job market were proving highly attractive, he said:

“Destinations like the UAE offer tax-free living, a ‘can-do’ attitude, and a business-friendly environment that feels far more optimistic and rewarding.”

He added that family support was also changing shape.

Mr Little said: “Interestingly, instead of the traditional ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ helping with a first home deposit, families are now supporting children with the costs of emigration and settling abroad.”

The government has rejected the idea that Britain is failing young people.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said the Budget had doubled down on growing the economy and creating good jobs.

They said this included maintaining the cap on corporation tax at 25%, supporting high streets with permanently lower tax rates and making it easier for start-ups to scale and invest in the UK.

They said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed and when given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.

“This government is supporting entrepreneurs to thrive – they are a key theme of our small business strategy to drive economic growth across the country – and with an 87% employment rate, graduates remain more likely to be in work than those without a degree.”