Have you ever thought about living and working abroad? 2021 seems like a great year to make a move and start exploring all the amazing international job opportunities. It can seem daunting at first, but we are here to help, with almost 30 years supporting expats around the world. Keep reading for our insights into the best expat jobs abroad to find out which opportunity is the right one for you. Ready to find the perfect job overseas?
How to find expat jobs abroad in 2021?
Since remote working became a bigger global trend, opportunities for expat workers have increased. It is now far easier for anyone with wanderlust and a sense of adventure to find an expat job abroad. The world is more international than ever before.
Many people have made resolutions to change their careers and there is no better time to think about looking internationally for your next job. Working abroad is one of the best career moves for any profession, but some professions are better suited for working internationally. Many people think that finding a job abroad is difficult, or that without knowing the local language you stand little chance of finding a job.
There are plenty of ways to get started on your job hunt online, whether you want to work at a start-up or in a more conventional workplace. With a little planning and some strategic action, you could be living the dream before you know it.
You will need to decide whether you want to work somewhere familiar to you (linguistically, culturally, gastronomically), or you want to step out of your comfort zone and try something truly new to you. Once you figure that out, you can start looking at the best sectors
for work abroad. We have also prepared a full guide for you on how to find a job in another country.
Work abroad in 2021: what is going on with the international job market?
At the beginning of this year LinkedIn has published a full report on the jobs on the rise by industry. It turns out that in 2020, despite the pandemic, the number of vacancies has only increased. The global labour market begins to recover from the pandemic. Besides, finding a job abroad is still the main reason people become expats.
1/Technology, data science and artificial intelligence jobs abroad for expats
Working in specialist sectors, such as technology, can give you access to the best jobs for expats in the USA where work visas and Green Cards can be difficult to come by. If you’re an expert in your field, you may be able to find a company that will sponsor an H1B visa for you. These are visas that allow US companies to hire foreign professionals to work in the US. There’s a cap of 65,000 on the number of visas issued each financial year.
The world runs on data. Organizations big and small need experts who can make sense of the data and learn from it. The pandemic may have made some businesses lean more heavily on data scientists as they navigated an increasingly uncertain world. Hiring for these roles grew nearly 46% since 2019.
The job of artificial intelligence (AI) was booming well before the pandemic hit the economy. The coronavirus didn’t slow down the field’s growth either. Many companies looked to AI as a way to keep up with increased demand during the pandemic. Others investigated AI as a way to safeguard their business from future disruptions, too. Hiring in this area grew 32% between 2019 and 2020.
2/Finance jobs for expats abroad
Finance is one of the popular expat jobs in Singapore, ranked the number 2 destination for living and working abroad in HSBC’s 2020 Expat Explorer survey. The city state welcomes entrepreneurs, as well as people employed by companies based in Singapore, who will apply for visas on their behalf. The finance sector is also a source of expat jobs in Dubai, where accountancy and banking are sought-after specialisms.
The combination of historically low-interest rates and the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program loans in the USA has kept loan experts busy this year — and sent many companies on the hunt for even more. Hiring for these jobs in 2020 increased nearly 59% from 2019. For people looking to work from home, roughly a quarter of loan officer job postings mention remote work options.
3/Business development and sales professionals jobs abroad for expats
Businesses were tasked with quickly adapting to an uncertain world and economy. While some jobs were lost, others that could help bottom lines and help businesses navigate through the pandemic were added. Hiring for these roles grew more than 45% between 2020 and 2019.
4/Digital marketing and expats
People stuck inside due to the pandemic turned to the internet for entertainment, meaning businesses were eager to get their products and services on their screens. These roles specialize in figuring out how to grab your attention in an already saturated digital world. Hiring for digital marketing roles grew nearly 33% year-over-year.
Marketing and PR jobs are plentiful in Europe and Asia. Even if you only speak English you may be able to find a job abroad as there so many English-language communications outlets in many different countries. Every company needs a marketing professional to help with business development and commercial goals, so you will be highly employable and can get visa sponsorship in pretty much every country.
5/Expat jobs abroad: digital nomads and digital content creators
Being a digital nomad – someone who uses technology to work from different destinations – could be ideal for people who’d like to travel around as they work abroad. Several locations offer incentives to digital nomads who go to work there for a fixed period of time.
As the world sheltered in place, many turned online for entertainment and connection — and countless streaming and social platforms stepped up to fill the demand. From TikTok to YouTube and blogs to podcasts, the demand for digital content creators grew 49% year-over-year, providing a constant and entertaining stream of media for us all.
6/ Education professionals and language teachers jobs abroad for expats
Few systems were tasked with more in 2020 than schools and universities that had to quickly rethink how they operate and educate. In addition to traditional primary and secondary teachers, demand grew for support workers and tutors. Hiring for these roles grew more than 20% between 2019 and 2020.
Would-be expats who are native English speakers have the world at their feet, with an estimated 250,000 English speakers working as language teachers outside their home countries. And with demand for learning English growing across the globe, teaching it can be one of the best jobs for expats in Europe and beyond. A TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) qualification should stand you in good stead.
7/Nursing as an expat job
Nursing, particularly looking after older people, is one of the best jobs in New Zealand for expats, as it’s on the country’s long-term skill shortage list. Nursing is also an in-demand profession in many other countries including the USA. Would-be expats will need to make sure that their qualifications are recognised in their destination country when they start doing their research.
Nurses are the backbone of the health care system and they’re obviously in demand as the world navigates its way back from the darkest days of the pandemic. These roles are not only in hospitals, though. Organizations are looking for nurses to serve in long-term care facilities, schools, urgent care centers and more. The coronavirus is not the only reason for the demand for nurses: The need is being driven by a number of factors, including an aging population. Demand for nurses grew nearly 30% year-over-year in 2020.
8/Expat jobs abroad: health care supporting staff
The coronavirus pandemic caused a sudden and sustained need for doctors and nurses, but it also created the same demand for the people who support health care professionals. These people help usher patients through the healthcare system, keep records in order for doctors and much more. Since 2019, hiring for these positions has increased more than 34%.
9/ Nanny or au pair as a job for expats
Working as a nanny or au pair is a great way of experiencing life in another country. Living with a family abroad also offers the opportunity to learn the language of the country and experience its everyday culture first-hand. Many expats initially start their overseas adventure as au pairs before moving on to other jobs in their host country once they’ve gained some language skills. Just make sure you have the correct work permit for whatever job you’re pursuing.
10/ Hospitality and tourism jobs for expats abroad
The hospitality sector is a huge employer of expats: in the UK pre-pandemic and Brexit, it’s estimated that foreign workers accounted for 30% of hospitality workers. Many hotel chains are international companies, who can source employees from all over the world, from managers to chefs to front desk staff, to people working in communications and marketing.
From working as a tour guide, to helping out in a resort or on a cruise ship, the tourism industry offers a wealth of opportunities for expats, particularly those with good language skills. After the pandemic, the industry is expected to boom, so start preparing for your career move now.
Next steps to finding expat jobs abroad
Many professionals think that their industry is not suited well for a career abroad. We believe that any job is suitable for a career abroad. You just have to seek out the opportunities. Getting out there and meeting people in your new country is the best first step you can take. Networking is even more important abroad than it is in your own country.
How to find expat jobs
Work is a major motivator for moving abroad – statistics show it’s a factor in 43% of cases. But while some people will be headhunted by an overseas recruiter or stationed abroad by their current employers, for many it’s a matter of finding a job overseas themselves.
- Do your research to find what different countries are looking for: some, like New Zealand and Australia, list occupations where there are skills shortages.
- Make sure you have the right visa and work permit. Since the end of the Brexit transition period, UK citizens need a visa if they wish to spend more than 90 days in a Schengen country or carry out certain kinds of work there
- Have international health insurance in place: in some countries, companies are required to arrange healthcare insurance for expat employees. In others, visitors are obliged to have international health insurance for entry. Also ensure you have the paperwork that entitles you to free state healthcare – a GHIC if you’re British, or an EHIC if you’re European.
Wherever you move, go with total peace of mind
Making the move to another country can be challenging. But no matter where you go, you can take one thing off your mind. GMS work with leading independent providers for expat health, life and income protection insurance. With our trademark customer service, you can rest assured that you’re in safe hands. Find out how GMS can help you find the right international Health Insurance.
