A recent survey conduted by British financial group HSBC Holdings found that Japan is not an attractive place for foreigners to work. Many foreigners say they want to travel and live in Japan, but according to the survey, those who are actually doing it, don't give Japan good marks.
In the 2019 version of the HSBC's annual Expat Explorer Survey, responses were collected from expats living in 33 countries, asking them to rank their satisfaction in regards to Living (daily quality of life), Aspiring (economic and career issues) and Little Expats (childrearing topics). Japan's overall ranking was 32 out of the 33, beating only Brazil. I was very surprised!
In the Living category, Japan ranked 15th, which isn't so bad. Specific categories ranked as:
● Quality of life 13th
● Physical and mental well-being 20th
● Fulfillment 18th
● Cultural, opening and welcoming communities 26th
● Political stability 6th
● Physical and mental well-being 20th
● Fulfillment 18th
● Cultural, opening and welcoming communities 26th
● Political stability 6th
In the Aspiring category, Japan ranked 30th overall, with individual areas ranked as:
● Income 33rd
● Disposable income 19th
● Economic stability 13th
● Career progression 19th
● Reaching potential 16th
● Work/life balance 33rd
● Disposable income 19th
● Economic stability 13th
● Career progression 19th
● Reaching potential 16th
● Work/life balance 33rd
In the Little Expats area, Japan was dead-last 33, with the areas ranked as:
● Making friends 32nd
● Learning 33rd
● Schooling 24th
● Learning 33rd
● Schooling 24th
8 comments:
I think the biggest challenge to living overseas is being able to speak the language. Your job sounds like You are welcomed and the people living around you sound welcoming, I have heard from other people that is not ususally so in Japan. I have read that there is a huge challenge to the Japanese people to get ahead, work long hours and achieve well.
Hi Pamela i have never worked or lived in another country,but i am pleased that you are enjoying your time in Japan,i also would have trouble learning a new language as my hearing isnt the best,thankyou for this interesting information,hope your day is a good one my friend .xx
I was pretty surprised to read the results of the survey. But my only basis of knowledge about the subject is reading your blog and a few others. It would seem that the survey should have included questions about what people expect when they move to another country and what their aspirations ARE. Some people live to work and are always looking to climb the ladder higher. Others work to live and enjoy a slower lifestyle and hope for more experiences and are perhaps less materialistic.
xx, Carol
I've never worked of lived anywhere else. You post such lovely things so I am surprised it was so far down the list
Interesting info. yes, moving to another country always has challenges.
I think moving to another part of the US is a challenge too. Living on the east coast is
very different from west coast living. The stores are different, as is weather, housing and general mindset.
That's where flexibility comes in handy.
I have lived already 41 yrs abroad, in Sweden(I’m from Finland) and the language was problem first 6 mounths. There are guide many differences between Finland and Sweden, but nothing major. My brother lived a Year in Japan and didn’t enjoy a day of it. He never understod japanese way of life
I'll have to share this with Rick. I think he'd move to Japan in a heartbeat!
Is that survey just among people from the US who life elsewhere, or other nationalities as well? I'm not surprised Japan isn't high on the work/life balance thing, but I wouldn't have thought it ranked that low alltogether!
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