UK Gen Z want global experience without moving abroad

Pebl has published research indicating that UK Gen Z workers want international career experience without moving abroad permanently. The survey found strong interest in temporary overseas work and cross-border teams among young British professionals.

In a survey of 501 UK Gen Z professionals, 88% said they were highly interested in working for an employer that allows temporary work from another country. Some 68% would prefer to remain based in the UK while gaining international experience through short-term assignments or globally distributed teams, while 19.4% said they wanted to relocate permanently.

The findings point to a gap between demand for global experience and the structures many employers currently offer. Some 62% of respondents believed their best career prospects were in the UK, while 68.1% preferred a UK-headquartered employer over an overseas business.

That domestic preference contrasts with a clear appetite for international exposure. The data suggests young workers want career development across borders without the cost and disruption associated with traditional expatriate postings.

Barriers cited

Cost remains one of the biggest constraints. Some 61% of those surveyed cited relocation costs as a barrier to pursuing an international career, while 53% pointed to visa or work authorisation requirements.

Pebl also found that 40% said a lack of employer support or opportunities was holding young professionals back. UK employers received an average score of 3.15 out of 5 for global career readiness.

The figures come as employers continue to compete for early-career talent and look for ways to build internationally experienced teams without opening offices in multiple countries. Pebl argued that short-term work abroad, cross-border project work and globally distributed teams could offer one route to widening access to international experience.

Comparisons with the US were a central part of the research. Among US Gen Z respondents, 64% expressed strong interest in employers that permit temporary work from abroad, lower than the 88% recorded in the UK. Given equal career progression, 41% said they would prefer to remain based at home while gaining global experience, compared with 68% of their UK peers.

Leadership skills

The survey also explored how young workers view the value of international work. Among UK respondents, 88% said working across countries and cultures would make them better leaders, while 83% said professionals with cross-cultural exposure had a competitive edge.

That places international experience in the category of leadership development rather than lifestyle choice. The responses indicate that younger employees increasingly see cross-cultural work as part of early career progression, rather than something reserved for senior staff.

"The traditional expat model is out of step with how the next generation wants to work," said Francoise Brougher, Chief Executive Officer of Pebl.

"Companies no longer need an office in every market to offer meaningful global careers. Today's employment infrastructure can connect people to teams, cultures and opportunities across borders without requiring a permanent move. Employers that embrace that shift will have a powerful advantage in attracting and developing talent," Brougher said.

The survey also pointed to broader attitudes towards work in an economy shaped by artificial intelligence. Some 76% of respondents agreed that as AI advances, the ability to navigate different perspectives and cultures will become an even greater differentiator.

Communication and leadership ranked above technical AI skills on the survey's list of attributes seen as most valuable in the future workplace. That suggests young professionals expect human and cross-cultural skills to remain important even as automation expands across office work.

"Companies often think of international experience as something reserved for senior leaders," Brougher said.

"This research shows young professionals see it as a path to becoming a leader in the first place."

Pebl operates in the global employment market, where companies use third-party providers to hire, pay and manage workers across multiple jurisdictions. It said businesses can support international experience through employer of record arrangements, cross-cultural leadership programmes and project exchanges across borders.

The research was based on an online survey conducted over four days in August, and the responses were not weighted.