Posted by “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”
— Chris Grosser,Owner Advisor at Tesla, Owner/Operator of Chris Grosser Photography
For those thinking of making a major change this year, consider taking your suitcase and your briefcase along too. With language, travel and foreign business barriers shrinking, the ideal life overseas you seek is surely within reach.
What constitutes a better life for you? In addition to career prospects, there are other important factors to consider based on your personal preference. In favour of giving you an overview of the best countries to work and live in around the world, we’ve accessed the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Better Life Index.
This index measures the overall well-being of societies based on 11 factors. According to the official website, “these 11 topics reflect what the OECD has identified as essential to well-being in terms of material living conditions (residence, income, jobs) and quality of life (community, education, environment, governance, health, life satisfaction, security and work-life balance).”
Here’s a list we’ve curated just for you:
Norway
Did you know that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded yearly in Oslo, Norway’s capital city? According to the results of the Better Life Index, Norway is at the top of the list in terms of housing, jobs, environment, life satisfaction and safety. It’s also important to note that over 75% of people in Norway, between the ages of 15 to 64 have a paid job.
Australia
How’s life in the world’s sixth largest country by area? Pretty great! Australia comes out on top in civic engagement and health. It’s important to have a quality education background and skills to work here. The index shows that around 72% of people (15 to 64) have a paid job. This is above the OECD employment average of 66%.
Denmark
If work-life balance is your top priority then Denmark should be at the top of your ‘career destinations’ list. One of the key findings from the OECD index shows us that only 2% of employees work very long hours. It’s also reported that those who work full-time in Denmark devote 15.9 hours to leisure and personal care (socialising, indulging hobbies, eating, sleeping, watching television for example).
New Zealand
There’s much to love about New Zealand, with its fantastic festivals, picturesque views, amazing food and wine in addition to otherworldly outdoor experiences. On the index, New Zealand ranks the highest for its social support network. The OECD indicates that in New Zealand, 99% of people believe they have someone they can rely on in times of need.
Finland
No matter where you’re from or where you’re headed, a well-educated and trained society is vital to every nation. It’s reported that Finns can go through an estimated 19.8 years of education. OECD reports that Finland comes out on top in math, sciences and reading literacy. It should come as no surprise that there are only a few occupations held in higher regard than teachers here.
The United States
When you consider household income and financial wealth as key factors for your search, the OECD index ranks The United States at the top. Here, “the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 41 071” in a year.
In a time where Malaysia continues to face a brain drain dilemma, an article published in The Star newspaper last August gives us some insight as to why. The article states that there are more Malaysians looking for jobs abroad due to the decrease in ringgit value and better salary packages.
That being said, what factors would you take into consideration when defining the dream destinations for your career prospects?
I would like to apply for overse
as job, in Australia or any of the 6
countries.
I’m in marketing and corporate sales with industrial experiences.
Desperate looking for job.