Communications of the ACM
Top Tech Professionals Eye the U.s. For Jobs
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According to the 2010 Hydrogen Global Professionals on the Move Report, nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of highly skilled experienced technology professionals would like to work in the United States, followed by 16 percent who would like to go to Australia and 12 percent who would prefer to work in the U.K. Other countries in the top 10 were France, Canada, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, New Zealand and Germany. Factors influencing the decision of where to work abroad include language, the size of the expatriate community and overall IT infrastructure. As some geographic regions recover faster than others from the global downturn, recruiters expect to see the relative popularity of these regions reflect where the highest-paid jobs are migrating.
As the Global Professionals on the Move Report found, IT professionals are more open to working abroad when they view the move as shifting from a career focus to a project focus. Correspondingly, the top reason for respondents moving abroad was for "new experiences" (22.4 percent). This was followed by 20.3 percent of respondents who said it would be for better opportunities, while 16.4 percent cited better living conditions. Another 14.3 percent said they would work overseas if an opportunity came up with their current employer. Just 6.4 percent said they would work abroad because of higher pay.
The research indicates that greater earning potential is not in itself a top priority for professionals when looking to work abroad. For high fliers already on high salaries, a post overseas has to have the right fit with their overall career and life plan to be worth the move. Across all sectors, the survey found that a majority of the respondents (60 percent) did not feel that the recession had had an impact on their willingness to move overseas. The survey also found that respondents only want to move temporarily, not on a permanent basis, with 64 percent saying they would work abroad for up to five years.
View a Slideshow: "Where the IT Jobs Are: 10 American Cities."
From Network World
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