Undeterred by Fears of Terrorism, Most 'Generation Z' College Seniors Want to Work Abroad, Driven by Personal Growth and Chance to Travel

College seniors are so eager to work abroad that most are willing to make significant personal sacrifices, including:

• 66 percent of interested respondents who would postpone buying their first home
• 60 percent who would put off having children
• 44 percent who would postpone marriage

Instead of career advancement or financial gain, they want to work abroad to experience new cultures (77 percent), for personal growth (71 percent) and for the chance to travel (69 percent).

"Today's college students appear to be enthusiastic risk takers, and they're looking for careers that will fulfill their strong desire to explore the world, even if that means foregoing traditional measures of success," said Bill Graebel, CEO of Graebel Companies, Inc., a leading provider of workforce and workplace mobility solutions for Global 100 and Fortune 500 companies. "This survey proves global companies must evolve with their workforce by aligning new talent with their interest in working abroad. By doing so, you can attract the best talent and improve your company's long-term success."

Additional findings include:

• Supply vs. Demand: While 81 percent of college seniors want to work abroad, only 47 percent expect to have the opportunity to take a job overseas in the next three years.
• Liberal and Well-Traveled: College seniors who want to work abroad are more likely to identify as liberal, describe themselves as experienced travelers and have an active passport. Seniors with majors in humanities and arts, natural sciences and social sciences are more likely to want to work abroad; business majors are slightly less likely.
• Positive View of Globalization: Sixty percent of all respondents believe increased globalization has a positive impact on communities. Only 24 percent say relationships between the U.S. and other countries are currently positive; 59 percent disagree.
• Unsure of the Economy: Thirty-seven percent of all respondents believe the U.S. economy will improve over the next three years, while 50 percent believe it will worsen. Expectations for the global economy are a toss-up: 40 percent think it will improve over the next three years, while 39 percent think it will get worse.
• Seeking Longer-Term Relocation: Today's college seniors want to work abroad for extended periods of time, with 43 percent saying they'd be willing to move for one to three years. Only 6 percent would work abroad for less than six months, and 7 percent would relocate overseas permanently.
• Help Wanted: Most students expect companies to offer relocation services, including paying for travel expenses (82 percent), finding them a place to live (68 percent) and moving their belongings (66 percent).
• Dream Cities: London tops the list of work-abroad dream cities for college seniors, followed by Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin, Johannesburg, São Paulo and Singapore.

"Today's college students are motivated by different things than their parents were. They care about adventure, experience and flexibility more than 401(k)s, corner offices and dental plans," said Tim O'Shea, Vice President, Worldwide Consulting Services for Graebel. "Global companies that attract the best and brightest of tomorrow's workers don't just offer work-abroad opportunities—they put workforce mobility at the center of their talent management strategies and promote cross-border opportunities to prospective employees." 

About the Survey
The survey was conducted by Cite Research among 500 U.S. college seniors, between August 4 and August 10, 2017, using an email invitation and online survey. Respondents were screened to be seniors in the 2017-2018 school year and 98 percent were aged 18-22.

About Graebel
Graebel Companies, Inc. is a leading provider of global workforce and workplace mobility solutions for Fortune 500 and Global 100 firms and their employees in 165 countries. Since its founding in 1950, Graebel has evolved, innovated and grown to deliver excellent service and results for clients, all while remaining family-owned and focused on its duty of care. Graebel develops and implements mobility strategies that help companies attract and retain talent; respond faster to global market trends; and maximize return on mobility programs. The company addresses every part of the mobility lifecycle for employers and employees, including services for departure and move management, destination, settling-in and ongoing assignment. For more information, visit Graebel.com. Here's to the world ahead℠.

Media Contact:
Jake Kubié
Linhart Public Relations
303-515-2414
[email protected]

SOURCE Graebel Companies, Inc.

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