Leaving on a jet plane: Almost 9 in 10 Singaporeans eye overseas jobs

All in the name of employability.

According to JobStreet.com, despite the country’s economic progress and the fact that many foreign professionals want to work in Singapore, a recent JobStreet.com survey revealed that 88% of Singaporeans hope to build a career abroad for a couple of years to build their professional profile.

Twenty-eight per cent of working Singaporeans workers say they were actively looking for overseas career opportunities. Sixty per cent said they intended to work abroad at some point of their careers, while only twelve per cent said they preferred to remain in Singapore.

Enhancing future employability with international exposure is the biggest draw for the 35 percent of Singaporeans wanting overseas work experience. Better pay and living conditions are ranked next with 24 per cent. Majority of respondents who intend to pursue their careers abroad have plans to return home after three to five years. Not surprisingly, respondents with fewer years of work experience are more willing to work abroad for longer periods.

Of those respondents who wanted a career abroad but will not pursue cited family commitments as the main factor that is stopping them from leaving Singapore. Other considerations are better remuneration packages, job opportunities and political stability at home that can sway Singaporeans from looking for a career abroad.

As for work destinations, Australia emerged as the preferred country for Singaporeans with 27% identifying the country as the most ideal to work abroad in.

A total of 771 Singaporean workers aged between 23 and 40 years old took part in this survey conducted by JobStreet.com in November 2013.