What an irony. All summer, as is the norm, we’ve been bombarded by figures relating to the number of foreign visitors and house buyers, but very few studies have been carried out into the movement of Spaniards.
However, according to the Intergenerational Employment Outlook report by Gi Group Holding, an increasing number of Spaniards are deciding to emigrate. The main reasons are the desire to have a different experience (47.8%), improve quality of life (38.3%), develop professionally (36.6%), and achieve greater job stability (28.7%).
That said, I know from friends of mine working in various parts of Europe and further afield, the bottom line is better wages and the cost of living continuing to rise out of proportion especially in the Balearics.
According to the survey, when asked about their reasons for working abroad, 60.9% of respondents cited the search for a better salary as their main motivation for leaving Spain. Achieving a better quality of life (47.8%) is the second reason - and I thought everyone wanted to live in the Balearics because of the quality of life.
Those I know who have left love to come back on holiday, see the family, but very few are contemplating returning for good - can’t afford to.