http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5d2fd50c-0574-11df-a85e-00144feabdc0.html
Jobseekers make London capital choice
By Brian Groom, Business and Employment Editor
Published: January 20 2010 02:00 | Last updated: January 20 2010 02:00
London remains the most popular destination for jobseekers worldwide, ahead of New York and Sydney, but will face growing competition as the contest to attract the most talented staff intensifies, according to new research.
Twenty-two per cent opted for the capital, compared with 16 per cent for New York and 12 per cent for Sydney, in a survey of 66,000 employees from 40 countries commissioned by totaljobs.com, a recruitment website, and international partners.
Asked to list the countries in which they would be happy to work, 52 per cent cited the US, followed by the UK (47 per cent) and Canada (43 per cent). The research found that, in spite of the attraction of metropolitan hubs, it was country rather than city that was of greater importance to two-thirds of jobseekers.
After London - which topped a similar poll three years ago - Manchester was the UK's second most popular city for global jobseekers, with Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford and Liverpool also mentioned. The UK was one of only four countries to have nine or more cities mentioned, along with the US, which had 16, and Canada and Germany, also with nine.
More than half of those considering moving to Britain were educated to degree standard, many with qualifications in areas such as management, finance and engineering. The top attractions were higher salaries, improved career opportunities and staff benefits.
"Contrary to popular belief, those coming to the UK for jobs are well educated and ambitious, often providing much-needed skills in the UK economy," said John Salt, website director at totaljobs.com. "They are the result of a job market that has been globalised and with the rapid growth of the internet over the last five years it has made searching for jobs abroad easier."
But, he warned: "While the UK is popular with jobseekers today, we predict an increase in competition for talent as the recession and exchange rates start to hit pay packets."
Britain's top three placing was by no means guaranteed in future, the company said. Almost a third of those surveyed said there were more than 10 countries in which they would be willing to work and 68 per cent cited a good salary as the number one reason for choosing a job abroad.
Almost half of the 2,600 UK employees questioned were willing to seek employment abroad. They were overwhelmingly drawn to Anglophone countries, with the US (62 per cent), Australia (51 per cent) and Canada (49 per cent) the three most cited.
The main reasons for emigrating were the opportunity for new experiences, better career opportunities and better living standards.
City heights
Top 10 destinations for worldwide jobseekers 1. London 2. New York 3. Sydney 4. Paris 5. Dubai 6. Singapore 7. Los Angeles 8. Melbourne 9. Mexico City 10. Miami Source: totaljobs.comgl
Jobseekers make London capital choice
By Brian Groom, Business and Employment Editor
Published: January 20 2010 02:00 | Last updated: January 20 2010 02:00
London remains the most popular destination for jobseekers worldwide, ahead of New York and Sydney, but will face growing competition as the contest to attract the most talented staff intensifies, according to new research.
Twenty-two per cent opted for the capital, compared with 16 per cent for New York and 12 per cent for Sydney, in a survey of 66,000 employees from 40 countries commissioned by totaljobs.com, a recruitment website, and international partners.
Asked to list the countries in which they would be happy to work, 52 per cent cited the US, followed by the UK (47 per cent) and Canada (43 per cent). The research found that, in spite of the attraction of metropolitan hubs, it was country rather than city that was of greater importance to two-thirds of jobseekers.
After London - which topped a similar poll three years ago - Manchester was the UK's second most popular city for global jobseekers, with Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford and Liverpool also mentioned. The UK was one of only four countries to have nine or more cities mentioned, along with the US, which had 16, and Canada and Germany, also with nine.
More than half of those considering moving to Britain were educated to degree standard, many with qualifications in areas such as management, finance and engineering. The top attractions were higher salaries, improved career opportunities and staff benefits.
"Contrary to popular belief, those coming to the UK for jobs are well educated and ambitious, often providing much-needed skills in the UK economy," said John Salt, website director at totaljobs.com. "They are the result of a job market that has been globalised and with the rapid growth of the internet over the last five years it has made searching for jobs abroad easier."
But, he warned: "While the UK is popular with jobseekers today, we predict an increase in competition for talent as the recession and exchange rates start to hit pay packets."
Britain's top three placing was by no means guaranteed in future, the company said. Almost a third of those surveyed said there were more than 10 countries in which they would be willing to work and 68 per cent cited a good salary as the number one reason for choosing a job abroad.
Almost half of the 2,600 UK employees questioned were willing to seek employment abroad. They were overwhelmingly drawn to Anglophone countries, with the US (62 per cent), Australia (51 per cent) and Canada (49 per cent) the three most cited.
The main reasons for emigrating were the opportunity for new experiences, better career opportunities and better living standards.
City heights
Top 10 destinations for worldwide jobseekers 1. London 2. New York 3. Sydney 4. Paris 5. Dubai 6. Singapore 7. Los Angeles 8. Melbourne 9. Mexico City 10. Miami Source: totaljobs.comgl
