The grads ditching the UK for a fresh start abroad
A growing number of UK graduates are moving abroad for better career opportunities due to record-high competition for entry-level jobs in the UK. Australia is the most popular destination, supported by visa-friendly policies for young British adults.
Why it matters
The 'brain drain' of young professionals highlights structural challenges in the UK labor market and the search for better work-life balance or economic prospects.
Image caption, Charlie West, left, Rachel James and Owein Iveson have all moved overseas
Last year Rachel James quit her corporate job in London, packed a suitcase and booked a one-way ticket to Sydney, without a job lined up or a plan in place.
"I went for a fresh start," says the 26-year-old from Surrey. "To take a risk and try something completely different. With the worst case being there will always be a flight home if all fails."
More than one in 10 UK university students are now planning to move abroad for better opportunities after they have graduated, up from 7.8% two years ago, according to a survey , external of 15,000 final year university students.
Meanwhile, a study by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) says that competition for graduate jobs in the UK was at a three-decade high.
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