Shocked so many young people seem to be moving abroad

[lonielou]

First off, I know this anecdotal and perhaps someone here will have stats on this but I have one DD, been chatting to her tonight. She is 23, her school year are 23/24 now and we were chatting about what everyone from her small school are doing now. She was in a class of 14 at a prep school in south west London, we have discovered of her class

2x Live in Australia
1x USA
1x Hong Kong
1x Dubai
1x Kuwait
1x Germany
1x France

That leaves 5, DD is one of those and looking to move in the future but is still studying.

DD has no contact with 1 of these people so in theory could be living abroad.

Now I know this is anecdotal and she may just be in a particularly adventurous group but I also know several friends with kids living abroad, Australia and the Middle East seeming to be the big ones.

AIBU to be shocked by this? It feels like a lot of young people (all with the degrees or doing degrees) who could contribute so much to society just leaving!

i think things feel very bleak in the UK
i don’t blame them at all
some may well come back but when you’re young you should take opportunities

Just wish mine could move to the EU more easily. We have one in Australia and one looking at Canada

My son says the same at his workplace. They have a few dozen graduates on their graduate scheme at his branch, and most are planning to leave the UK once they're fully qualified at the end of the scheme duration, which is 3/4 years for accountants, 4/5 years for actuaries. Son himself has vague plans to emigrate, probably to Canada or Australia, but several of his peer group are pretty keen on Dubai so he may look at that too! That's one of the UK's largest pension/life/insurance firms.

Why does it shock you? It's no secret that life for a young person in the UK is exceptionally shit. High rents, low salaries, abysmal weather, fewer opportunities to work and live in Europe after Brexit... I am not surprised a single bit. Besides, it is quite common to work abroad for a bit when you are younger. That's how I ended up in the UK at 21. I wish I went to Hong Kong instead though.

I’m not surprised, things aren’t looking good and we’ve sorted options if needed

Yep to all those downsides, also the high taxes they face, not just the high costs. They're getting squeezed too much, especially with student loans and workplace pensions thrown into the mix. Rents are insane, when added to expensive council tax, water rates, utilities, etc. Even those on relatively high wages for new graduates, i.e. around average wage £35-£40k are finding after taxes and housing costs and commuting costs, there's nothing left.

Not helped by the attitude of some older people who think the answer is not to spend £25 on a mobile phone contract. Doesn't touch the sides when your tiny one bed flat costs nearly £1k per month in rent alone!

I don't blame them in all honesty, there's nothing here for them.My son is moving to Germany this year for work and to be with his partner, the standard of living there and jobs market, puts the UK to shame.

I guess I am shocked as atleast in our circle it seems to be more than not, also across all sorts of jobs (Civil engineering, finance, allied health services, law even more artistic jobs (like DDs old best friend works at an art gallery in the USA).

I wasn’t shocked about some but all of them together does shock me.

Yeah, I don't understand the surprise, either. Young people will move for more opportunities.

Maybe this helps give a bit of perspective. We moved from Uk - south, near London, to Europe when my DC we primary school age.
Here it is expensive however on the flip side, the weather is better, the health care is excellent, quick and efficient, public transport is on time, clean, not expensive and plentiful even at night. We can swim in the lakes in summer. Beautiful countryside.
Children learn the the National languages, English and 2 other languages at school. I am teaching 10/11 year olds who are basically fluent in English. Most children don’t go to university. The do apprenticeships. Once qualified as an apprentice it’s possible to have a good salary. There are no student loans. Once 18 the boys do military service where they learn useful skills and also get paid, they also learn how to manage thenselces, get up in the morning, keep fit etc.
My older DC is now at university in the Uk. He is utterly adamant he will be returning here after his degree.
He is studying in a nice town in South England - Waitrose and Porche Garage in the town. It took me months to persuade him that is a well off affluent town. Comments have included the comparison that he has to look at the floor when walking in the Uk due to rubbish and dog poo. Twice when he has been ill it has been impossible to get a GP appointment for a routine illness. He ended up in A&E
Buses to the local large town end at 7pm. Trains to London end at 12:00 and back to the town similar.
I could go on.
By all possible standards it’s better where he grew up. Thankfully I got him citizenship here so at least he will have options accross the EU
He does like the meal deals and Restaurants. That’s about it.

I don't blame them at all

Moved to Canada in 2009 and glad I did

Why would they want to contribute to this shit hole society when other countries are offering them better lifestyles and more money? I don't blame them one bit, if I didn't have firm roots here I'd be off too. Good for them. No point hanging around on a sinking ship just because you were born on it.

I can’t see a single reason why any young person would want to stay? There’s nothing for them in the UK. DS is Y11 and hoping for a sports scholarship to a US Uni, he’s got our full backing.

I lived abroad for years. It's a great experience when you are going. It opens your eyes to the world. I will be encouraging my kids to consider it

I've got 22yr old twins, one is hoping to leave asap and has already spent a year abroad. I'm so sad but honestly don't blame him although he loves London so am really hoping he comes back here eventually.

✅ Shitty morals and societal downfall
✅ Exceptionally high costs
✅ High taxes
✅ Low wages
✅ No future

Hooray for the UK!

YABU - probably a lot of these moves aren't permanent, it's just the 20s is the ideal time to take a job abroad because you won't be able to do it later if you want to have kids.

DH thinks we should encourage our kids to emigrate because the UK is going to hell, although I'm not sure where I'd recommend they go to. But I'd certainly be happy for them to do a few years away in their 20s if that's their thing (it was never mine).

Two DC - one in Australia, one in the US. They've both taken their Oxbridge degrees, their expertise, and their future taxes to greener pastures. I've left too (Europe).

We don’t value our young people. There’s a constant background noise saying they’re shit, they’re weak, woke, entitled, under educated, under experienced and it’s all their fault. Good on em. Go somewhere else and build a life. No shock here.

I'm not shocked at all. It's relentless bad weather and bad news in the UK. The economy is fucked.
I'd imagine kids who went to prep school have a the means and contacts to live abroad and I don't blame them at all

I think a poll from prep school in SW London isn’t really a true representation of that age group. They’ll be a lot of money to help those kids do that.

Good luck to them!
One government after another has done absolutely nothing for young people in
in this country, preferring to look out for pensioners instead.

So much of our industry has been sold off or moved abroad, life in this country is pretty bleak for the young.
No wonder we have such a skills shortage and have to accept immigrants rather than cultivate our own talent.

Those from wealthy backgrounds are far more likely to be financially well-cushioned to enable a move abroad.

It’s not that surprising.

YABU. Just because people move abroad, doesn't mean they won't come back. I've worked in Paris and Montreal but came home after a few years.

One nephew worked in France for 5 years and then came home, another has lived in the USA and Germany. I'm still not sure where they will finally settle.

On the other hand my neighbours are from New Zealand. I doubt they'll stay for ever. They work in defence and will go home at some point.

I took my two teens and moved from the UK to a well functioning country in the EU (my home country) three years ago, we are all glad that decision was made.