Rising living costs, limited job opportunities, and stretched paychecks are driving increasing numbers of young Britons to seek work overseas. According to the Office for National Statistics, 195,000 people under 35 left the UK in the year to June 2025.
Tokyo: safety and affordability
Ray Amjad, 25, a Cambridge graduate from Manchester, moved to Tokyo on a two-year visa for top graduates after working remotely across 20 countries. He cites the UK’s high living costs and employment challenges, contrasting them with Tokyo’s safety, reliability, and lower rent. Ray hopes to apply for permanent residency and notes many of his friends have moved to Australia, South Korea, and Hong Kong for similar reasons.
Dubai: ambition and tax-free living
Entrepreneur Isobel Perl, 30, plans to move her skincare business to Dubai, drawn by its thriving business community, year-round sun, and tax-free salaries. She obtained a “golden visa” allowing ten years of residency and hopes to expand her brand into the UAE. Despite financial setbacks from a trademark dispute in the UK, she is optimistic about her fresh start abroad.
Bali and beyond: lifestyle and entrepreneurship
Sol Hyde, 25, from Colchester, left a corporate job that made him unhappy and moved to Bali, where he runs a marketing consulting firm. He enjoys a flexible, outdoor lifestyle, co-working with peers, and building his business without the constraints of UK taxes. While he misses family and friends, he feels closer to them than when he was trapped in a stressful office environment.
Ray AmjadRay graduated from Cambridge and thought he might stay there…
Drivers of the trend
Three-quarters of British emigrants in the year to June 2025 were under 35. Experts cite the UK’s economic pressures, high living costs, limited graduate vacancies, and negative cultural attitudes toward success. Destinations like the UAE offer tax-free living, supportive business environments, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The UK government highlights efforts to create jobs, support entrepreneurs, and maintain an 87% graduate employment rate, but many young people are already looking abroad for fresh starts and greater opportunities.
