Singapore employees go beyond borders

Singapore - While Singaporean employees are willing to go oversees in order to find the right job, many do not want to leave their families behind.

According to a survey by Kelly Services, 78% of Singapore employees are comfortable with the idea of moving to a great distance and 55% will do so even if they did not speak the common language.

This means good news for employers. Relocation of workers overseas can be one of the most effective ways of filling gaps in the labour market at a time when there is a relative skills shortage.

However, the report revealed several complications when it comes to expatriation. Out of the 2,000 Singaporeans surveyed, 72% declared that family was the overwhelming issue, followed by language barriers at 49%. Respondents also cited children's schooling (27%) as the issue while 24% agreed to tax complications.

"With a more globalised workforce, there is increasingly a recognition that people may have to relocate to find the right work, or to advance their career. There are many skills that are easily transferable across borders including in areas such as banking and finance, IT, science and engineering," said Dhirendra Shantilal, senior vice president, Asia Pacific, Kelly Services.