About one-third of Swiss expats (34%) moved for career-related reasons, especially because of a foreign assignment (22%). For many, this seems to have been the right choice: almost three-quarters of employed Swiss expats are happy with their work-life balance (74%), and 73% are generally satisfied with their job. Moreover, 21% are in a management position, as opposed to 14% worldwide. Industries that tend to attract Swiss expatriates include advertising, marketing, and PR (10%), coaching and consulting (9%), finance (9%), as well as manufacturing and engineering (9%).
However, only 17% of Swiss expats state that they earn more than in a comparable job back home. Considering the potential difference in cost of living, however, it’s no surprise that 85% still say their income is enough or more than enough to cover all their expenses. In fact, 45% of Swiss expats have access to an annual household income of 100,000 USD or more (worldwide average: 21%).
You’re most likely to find Swiss expats in Brazil (6%), the UK (6%), the US (6%), as well as Thailand (5%). For many Swiss respondents, life abroad is nothing new: 76% have lived in at least one other country before, compared to a worldwide average of 68%. More significantly, 22% have previously lived in five or more other destinations — nearly three times the global average (8%)!
Considering the good quality of life at home (Switzerland ranks 8th in the Quality of Life Index), Swiss expats had some concerns before moving: nearly three in ten (29%) considered infrastructure a potential disadvantage, and 28% said the same about both personal safety and healthcare standards. The latter might be the result of Switzerland’s own compulsory — and highly regarded — healthcare system: Swiss insurers are required to offer basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition.
On the plus side, over half of Swiss expats (53%) thought the local cost of living abroad would be a potential benefit of moving away from infamously expensive Switzerland. Possible language barriers didn’t seem to worry many respondents either: about one in eight (13%) was concerned about language issues before moving.
Speaking a foreign language seems to come relatively easy to the Swiss: just 4% live in a destination where the local language is the same as their mother tongue, but 49% can speak the local language very well, and only 7% admit to not speaking it at all (global averages: 24% and 13% respectively).
With such strong language skills, the majority of Swiss expats (72%) says they have never felt unwelcome abroad due to their language or accent (global average: 58%). Perhaps the lack of a language barrier also helps them to settle in: half of all Swiss respondents say it only took up to six months to feel at home. Also, 28% are mostly friends with local residents (global average: 19%), and only one in five Swiss expats mainly socializes with other expatriates, as opposed to one in three worldwide.
Almost eight in ten Swiss expats (77%) are currently in a relationship, twelve percentage points more than the global average (65%); six in seven of them (86%) are generally happy with their relationship, and 48% say they couldn’t be any happier. However, not everyone is living in the same country as their partner — 17% are in a long-distance relationship.
In addition to work, an existing relationship was another common reason for moving abroad among Swiss expats: one in nine (11%) moved because of their partner’s job or education, and one in ten moved for love or to live in their partner’s home country. Of those who are in a relationship, only one in four is currently involved with another Swiss national; 42%, however, have a partner who’s from their new country of residence. Perhaps this is why 34% of all Swiss expatriates say they may stay abroad forever.
What’s also striking about Swiss expats is that only 16% are raising dependent children abroad (global average: 26%). Another 18% state that they do have children, but they’re already living on their own. The higher-than-average age of Swiss expats (49.4 years vs. 43.5 worldwide) might be one possible reason for this.
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About one-third of Swiss expats (34%) moved for career-related reasons, especially because of a foreign assignment (22%). For many, this seems to have been the right choice: almost three-quarters of employed Swiss expats are happy with their work-life balance (74%), and 73% are generally satisfied with their job. Moreover, 21% are in a management position, as opposed to 14% worldwide. Industries that tend to attract Swiss expatriates include advertising, marketing, and PR (10%), coaching and consulting (9%), finance (9%), as well as manufacturing and engineering (9%).
However, only 17% of Swiss expats state that they earn more than in a comparable job back home. Considering the potential difference in cost of living, however, it’s no surprise that 85% still say their income is enough or more than enough to cover all their expenses. In fact, 45% of Swiss expats have access to an annual household income of 100,000 USD or more (worldwide average: 21%).
You’re most likely to find Swiss expats in Brazil (6%), the UK (6%), the US (6%), as well as Thailand (5%). For many Swiss respondents, life abroad is nothing new: 76% have lived in at least one other country before, compared to a worldwide average of 68%. More significantly, 22% have previously lived in five or more other destinations — nearly three times the global average (8%)!
Considering the good quality of life at home (Switzerland ranks 8th in the Quality of Life Index), Swiss expats had some concerns before moving: nearly three in ten (29%) considered infrastructure a potential disadvantage, and 28% said the same about both personal safety and healthcare standards. The latter might be the result of Switzerland’s own compulsory — and highly regarded — healthcare system: Swiss insurers are required to offer basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition.
On the plus side, over half of Swiss expats (53%) thought the local cost of living abroad would be a potential benefit of moving away from infamously expensive Switzerland. Possible language barriers didn’t seem to worry many respondents either: about one in eight (13%) was concerned about language issues before moving.
Speaking a foreign language seems to come relatively easy to the Swiss: just 4% live in a destination where the local language is the same as their mother tongue, but 49% can speak the local language very well, and only 7% admit to not speaking it at all (global averages: 24% and 13% respectively).
With such strong language skills, the majority of Swiss expats (72%) says they have never felt unwelcome abroad due to their language or accent (global average: 58%). Perhaps the lack of a language barrier also helps them to settle in: half of all Swiss respondents say it only took up to six months to feel at home. Also, 28% are mostly friends with local residents (global average: 19%), and only one in five Swiss expats mainly socializes with other expatriates, as opposed to one in three worldwide.
Almost eight in ten Swiss expats (77%) are currently in a relationship, twelve percentage points more than the global average (65%); six in seven of them (86%) are generally happy with their relationship, and 48% say they couldn’t be any happier. However, not everyone is living in the same country as their partner — 17% are in a long-distance relationship.
In addition to work, an existing relationship was another common reason for moving abroad among Swiss expats: one in nine (11%) moved because of their partner’s job or education, and one in ten moved for love or to live in their partner’s home country. Of those who are in a relationship, only one in four is currently involved with another Swiss national; 42%, however, have a partner who’s from their new country of residence. Perhaps this is why 34% of all Swiss expatriates say they may stay abroad forever.
What’s also striking about Swiss expats is that only 16% are raising dependent children abroad (global average: 26%). Another 18% state that they do have children, but they’re already living on their own. The higher-than-average age of Swiss expats (49.4 years vs. 43.5 worldwide) might be one possible reason for this.
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