Ask Onix
Exodus of young talent as UK struggles with living costs
Nearly 200,000 Britons under 35 relocated overseas in the year ending June 2025, driven by soaring rents, stagnant wages, and a bleak job market, according to official figures.
Where are they going?
Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Australia top the list of destinations for young professionals seeking better prospects. Tokyo, Dubai, and cities like Seoul and Hong Kong have become magnets for graduates disillusioned with UK opportunities.
Ray Amjad, 25, left Cambridge after graduation to work remotely in web design before settling in Tokyo under a two-year visa for high-achieving graduates. He now plans to apply for permanent residency, citing Japan's safety, lower living costs, and welcoming environment for skilled migrants.
"The UK is losing too many talented young people. Japan benefits from our skills without investing in our education or healthcare."
Ray Amjad, UK expatriate in Tokyo
Dubai's allure: tax-free living and entrepreneurial energy
Isobel Perl, 30, founder of a skincare brand, is relocating to Dubai in early 2026 to escape the UK's financial pressures and expand her business. She secured a 10-year golden visa for content creators, joining a wave of entrepreneurs drawn to the UAE's tax-free salaries, vibrant business community, and year-round sunshine.
"Dubai's energy is infectious. It's a place where ambition thrives," she said. However, the move comes at a cost: Perl faces a £500,000 rebranding loss after a trademark dispute forced her to rename her company from PERL Cosmetics to Isobel Perl.
Despite the challenges, she views the relocation as a fresh start. "I'll miss my friends and countryside walks, but I'm only a seven-hour flight away."
Bali and Cape Town: remote work havens for digital nomads
Sol Hyde, 25, left his corporate job in Colchester last year to launch a marketing consultancy. Disillusioned by the UK's "tall poppy syndrome"-where success is often met with resentment-he now splits his time between Bali and Cape Town, South Africa.
"I wake up to sunshine, work with friends, and build my business without the UK's stifling tax system," he said. Hyde now employs six people and plans to hire four more, a growth he attributes to the flexibility of working abroad.
"The UK's negative culture and high taxes would have crushed my ambition. Here, I can take risks and thrive."
Sol Hyde, entrepreneur in Bali
Government response and economic realities
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) defended the UK's economic policies, highlighting measures to support entrepreneurs, including a capped corporation tax rate and incentives for start-ups. "Graduates remain more likely to be employed than non-graduates," the spokesperson added.
However, financial planner David Little of Evelyn Partners countered that the UK's "negative economic narrative"-marked by high unemployment, rising debt, and shrinking graduate opportunities-is pushing young professionals abroad. "Destinations like the UAE offer tax-free living and a business-friendly environment that feels far more optimistic," he said.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted that three-quarters of British emigrants in the past year were under 35, though recent changes to migration estimates make year-on-year comparisons difficult.
Will they return?
For now, many young expatriates see their moves as long-term solutions. Amjad and Hyde express openness to returning to the UK-but only if economic conditions improve. Perl, meanwhile, is focused on building her business in Dubai, though she acknowledges the emotional toll of leaving loved ones behind.
As the UK grapples with its economic challenges, the exodus of young talent shows no signs of slowing.
