Living costs push half of Europeans to consider moving abroad
Rising living costs are driving nearly half of adults in the UK, France, Germany and Italy to expect a move abroad, signalling a structural shift in European labour mobility that could reshape talent retention for domestic businesses.
Almost 50% of people across France, Germany, Italy and the UK expect to relocate internationally at some point, according to a late June poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by digital insurance firm Feather. Only one in ten respondents in each of the four markets, with 500 adults questioned per country, firmly ruled out ever leaving their home country.
The primary catalyst for this potential exodus is financial strain. The cost of living crisis was cited as the main reason for wanting to move by 53% of Britons, 48% of the French, 43% of Germans and 32% of Italians. For employers, this suggests domestic inflation is directly translating into a workforce willing to seek geographic arbitrage.
Spain has emerged as the dominant beneficiary of this shifting sentiment, ranking as the top destination for both British and Italian respondents at 24% and 20% respectively. It also drew significant interest as a secondary destination, capturing 16% of the French and 12% of German respondents. However, specific national preferences vary. Canada is the top pick for 17% of the French, while Germans favour nearby Austria at 17%, alongside Switzerland at 12%. Britons remain the most willing to travel long distances, with Australia drawing 19% and New Zealand 10%.
A fluid workforce
This migration intent does not necessarily equate to a permanent brain drain. Travel expert Holly Rubenstein noted that the traditional model of settling indefinitely in a single foreign country is fading. “The emerging version is much more fluid – spend six months somewhere, work remotely, test a lifestyle, and build connections across several places,” she said.
This evolution toward short-term, remote-enabled relocations presents a complex challenge for European economies and corporate planning. As Rubenstein pointed out, younger generations will view remote connections as standard. “Gen Alpha will grow up with remote connection as the norm. For them, career, friendships and identity won't need to sit in just one place.” Businesses across the continent may increasingly have to compete for talent not just with local rivals, but with the cost advantages of other nations.
