As countries continue to grow and advance, many are currently seeking skilled workers in several different industries. Here is a list of the top rated places to live that are currently seeking expats, as ranked by HSBC.
3. Sweden
Sweden is located in Northern Europe in between Norway and Finland. The official language is Swedish and the population sits at 9.7 million people, with 2 million of which being under the age of 18 (1).
Employment
In HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey, Sweden ranked 1st for job security, 1st for work/life balance, and 3rd overall (2).
There are many fields that are looking for qualified employees in Sweden (3). Some of these fields and their specific careers include (4):
- Education – Preschool teachers, Secondary school teachers
- Engineering – Civil, Electronic, Electrical, Telecommunications, Metallurgy
- Medicine – Pharmacist, Biomedical Science, Podiatrist, Geriatric Nurses, Doctors, Optician, Psychologists,
Cost of Living
The cost of living is on average higher than in Canada. However, the cost of rent in Sweden in lower than in Canada (5). The average salary in Sweden, based on an average between men and women across all sectors, is $58,000 CAN a year, before taxes (6).
2. New Zealand
New Zealand is an English speaking island nation. The island is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 1,500km east of Australia. The Capital city of New Zealand is Wellington. The currency used in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). The population of New Zealand was 4.4 million in 2013 (7), and the country ranked 9th in the 2014 Human Development Index (8).
Employment
New Zealand is known for its agriculture, finance, tourism and manufacturing fields. Most expats however, work in the fields of:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Forestry
New Zealand was also noted to be one of the world’s most business friendly countries. Over a ¼ of the labour force is comprised of entrepreneurs and small businesses both from locals and expats. In HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey, New Zealand ranked 1st for Entrepreneurship, 2nd for work/life balance, and 2nd overall (9).
Cost of Living
A fully furnished 2 bedroom house in New Zealand would cost, on average, $464.00 CAN a week. The closer to main cities you are, as with most other places, the more expensive the cost of rent (10). All expenses including rent, food and utilities are on average 10%-15% more expensive in comparison to Canada (11). Even in comparison to salaries New Zealand has a high cost of living (12). This is due to the fact that most goods have to travel a far distance to reach the country. There is also a 15% GST tax.
1. Singapore
Singapore is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia and is the only island city-state in the world. Singapore has its own currency, the Singapore dollar (SGD) and has a population of 5.4 million people. Singapore also exports many goods and is home to one of the busiest ports in the world (13). Forbes ranked Singapore as Asia’s most influential city, and the 4th most influential city in the world in 2014 (14).
Employment
In HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey, Singapore ranked 1st for Safety, 2nd for Economic Confidence, and 1st Overall (15).
Some of the main job fields seeking expats in Singapore are (16):
- Manufacturing (electronics, chemicals)
- Trade
- Finance (investment banking, risk management, insurance)
- Marketing
Cost of Living
Singapore is ranked as the 4th most expensive city to live in (17). Compared to Canada the cost of living in Singapore is much greater than in Canada (18). A furnished 2 bedroom villa in Singapore costs on average $4,775.00 CAN to rent a month (17). As with most other countries the closer to main cities you are, and the more desirable the locations, the more expensive the cost of rent is going to be.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why these cities that are searching for skilled workers are ranked as the best places to live. From a guaranteed increase in quality of life to plentiful employment opportunities, these cities truly are the best places to live and work in.