Bolting for the exit gate

Singapore professionals keen to relocate, survey finds

HONG KONG may be a crowded, noisy and sometimes chaotic city but it seems that professionals living there are fairly happy to stay on, at least according to a new survey.

In fact, in percentage terms, markedly fewer Hong Kong professionals are bolting for the exit gate, assuming they can find a job, to go somewhere else, than is the case in Singapore.

Human resource consultancy MRI China Group found that of 325 professionals polled in Singapore, 44.2% were actively looking to relocate to another city. In contrast, only 29.4% of the 532 surveyed in Hong Kong said they were doing the same.

In fact, the survey – which took in responses from 4,968 people in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore – found that professionals based in Hong Kong were the happiest to stay rooted. The survey, conducted online, was carried out in November last year.

Taiwan-based professionals were the most eager to move, with almost

Singaporeans have got more footloose over the years.

— SELENA LING

51% of the 294 polled saying they h were actively looking for a relocation.

Among the Singapore residents surveyed, Australia and New Zealand were by far the most popular destinations to move to. Among people who said they were looking to relocate, 52% said they wanted to live in one or the other.

Europe as a whole came second to Australia or New Zealand, cited by 47.2% of respondents looking out for relocation opportunities, while Asean took third place with 46.4%.

“Singaporeans have got more footloose over the years,” noted OCBC economist Selena Ling.

“Having an overseas posting looks good on your resume.”