Best Countries to Find Jobs

With the global economy steeped in recession, new building practically at a standstill, nearly every industry (and country) feeling the crunch, and unemployment notoriously high, everyone is looking for alternative ways to make money. For some, that may even extend as far as emigrating from their home country to another country in search of work.

Before you consider making such a move, it would behoove you to have some idea of which countries might offer you the best opportunity for employment (it simply won’t do to travel abroad only to realize that the locale in which you’re seeking work has suffered greater job loss—particularly in your career field—than the one you left). So if you’re looking for gainful employment somewhere in the world, here are just a few countries that may present the opportunity to work and earn.

Now, you might think that the United States, Canada, and most European countries would provide the most jobs, but wealthy nations with highly paid employees are some of the worst for unemployment right now. The reasons for this strange phenomenon are multifold. For starters, many of the lenders that went belly-up when the bubble burst on the housing market saw their demise in these nations, and although some were saved with government bailouts, the repercussions still closed the doors on several lending institutions and caused cutbacks at others, leading to massive layoffs. And then the trickle-down began, leading to layoffs in adjacent industries, which eventually led to cutbacks in just about every sector of the job market. Hello, 10-20% unemployment. Ouch!

On top of that, many companies that operate in these countries are still in need of employees to get the work done. And since they can’t afford the trained professionals in their own country, they have developed an unparalleled market for outsourcing, opening branches in developing countries and emerging markets where they can pay a fraction of the salary that they would pay in their home country for the same work and similar skill level (and still offer what is considered a fantastic salary for the lower-income region).

Keeping this in mind, if you’re looking to follow your job to a foreign county, there are a few countries that are likely to yield results.

The first country to note for job opportunities is India. If you have a desire to live in a largely poverty-stricken country, steeped in a complex culture, then this job market may be for you. With more than just customer service jobs going to India these days, you might find an even better position than the one you left. Of course, you’ll get paid significantly less than Western countries in comparison, but considering the lower cost of living, you may still come out ahead. Work permits may present your greatest challenge, so you may want to try to secure employment before arriving in the country.

China is another market that seems to be growing for professionals. While Japan used to be at the forefront when it came to growth of industry, China has come onto the white-collar scene in force over the last several years, demanding a better life for their citizenry. Of course, it’s pretty difficult to immigrate to the People’s Republic of China. You may want to consider trying the westernized port of Hong Kong for an easier entry.

Of course, it isn’t all bad in the Western world. Norway and Switzerland are still enjoying less than 5% unemployment rates. But by and large, it won’t do you much good to make a lateral move. If you want to follow the jobs, you’re going to have to leave your comfort zone, literally, by giving up some of the many comforts to which you have become accustomed living in a capitalist society. However, if you’re desperate enough for work, you can find it, and do quite well for yourself, all things considered, by going to another country.

The bottom line: Before you hop on a plane bound for a new career adventure, you will need to do your research to determine your best opportunities. If you’re a member of Passport Career (which means your organization or university/college pays for a license for you to access it), there is a plethora of information and resources available to help you in all aspects of your global job search for more than 250 cities in 78 countries.

Sarah Danielson writes for TripBase, a personalized travel website, which covers the range of transatlantic cruises to cheap hotels in Glasgow.