The US may not be the best destination for expats to live and work abroad, but it does stand out in one big way: its career opportunities.
According to the latest “Expat Insider” report from Internations, a global community for people living and working abroad, the United States ranks high overall on the Expat Work Index.
The US ranks first for both the local job market and individual career prospects, and seventh for work culture and satisfaction.
The US ranks 30th overall out of 53 destinations as a great destination for expats, with 72% of US expats saying they are satisfied with life, on par with the global average.
However, its biggest drawbacks are factors related to quality of life (such as healthcare, travel and transportation) and personal finances.
Expats are generally dissatisfied with the cost of living in the US, with about half saying daily expenses are too high. The country ranks only second in terms of affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare. It is also in the bottom 10 countries when it comes to public transport availability.
However, once newcomers arrive, they easily get used to the language, and they are satisfied with the convenience of unlimited access to online services, high-speed Internet connection at home, and even no need for cash payments.
The Expat Insider report surveyed more than 12,000 respondents to rank destinations based on five indices: quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finances, and the “Expat Essentials” index, which covers Housing, administration, language and digital life.
The most common reasons foreigners come to the U.S. are for school or college (15%) or work (13%). Expats in the United States are most likely to work in healthcare, information technology, and education.
Another 12 percent said they moved to the U.S. “for love.”
Overall, Mexico ranked first as the top destination for expats, with 90 percent satisfied with living abroad, followed by Spain, Panama, Malaysia and Taiwan.
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