22/03/2002

Survey reveals workers are prepared to move around EU

An internet poll has revealed that 40 per cent of workers in the UK and Ireland would be prepared to move countries in order to find a better job.

The poll by Irish website Monster.ie took a broad cross-section of opinion from 17,713 employees across 12 of Monster's European sites as to how far respondents would move in order to secure "an exciting new job”.

Across Europe, 37 per cent said they would be prepared to change continent to pursue their dream jobs, although 23 per cent claimed they would not move at all. Switzerland had the highest percentage of respondents claiming they would move continent for an exciting new job (53 per cent), followed by Spain (51 per cent) and France (49 per cent).

UK and Irish respondents were slightly more adventurous than the average European and 40 per cent stated that they would make the move.

Karen Kilroy, marketing director of Monster.ie, said: “The fact that most Europeans would prefer to change continent rather than merely town or country suggests that they would rather experience a culture and lifestyle vastly different to their own.

“As we all become increasingly Europeanised, differences across borders are fading and the results show that people are willing to look further afield to fulfil their sense of adventure, as well as achieve their career goals.”

EU projects such as Expertise in Labour Mobility conduct research into all areas of labour mobility and published a series with guides on job-hunting methods in over 30 countries.

(GMcG)

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