Growing numbers of UK graduates are moving abroad for better job prospects and quality of life, with Australia the top destination and competition for graduate roles at home at a 30-year high.
01Summary
- 01More than one in 10 final-year university students plan to move abroad after graduating, up from 7.8% two years ago.
- 02UK employers average 140 applications per graduate vacancy, a 14% rise from 2025 and up from 30 applications 20 years ago.
- 03Australia is the most popular destination for British adults emigrating, helped by a visa scheme for 18-to-35-year-olds allowing stays of up to three years.
- 04Around 75,000 more 16-to-34-year-olds left the UK than arrived in 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.
- 05A graduate moving from London to Sydney saw her salary fall from £42,000 to £37,000 but pays similar rent for a two-bedroom flat.
02Why it matters
With graduate jobs harder to secure and housing costs high, more young people are finding moving abroad a rational alternative for better pay, lifestyle or career opportunities.
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