Spanish Expats Mainly Move Abroad for Business
Career comes first for most of the Spanish expats – no surprise when seeing their high level of education and the ability to speak several languages.
The Spanish abroad like to mingle with fellow expats – almost half of the Spanish survey participants (48%) state they have mostly other expats as friends, whereas globally only 34% say so. Among their expat friends, one-fourth are mostly fellow Spaniards and 20% are predominantly from other countries, but speak the same language or share a similar culture. Only about one in nine (11%) claims to have mostly locals from their current country of residence as friends.
Most of the Spaniards abroad meet new people at work (63%), through friends of theirs (60%), and at expat events (38%). Since meeting new people is a lot easier when sharing a language, it is fortunate that the Spanish expatriates have an overall good command of languages – 73% (vs. a global 61%) are proficient in three or more languages. In addition, 37% say they speak the local language of their respective host country very well (global average: 29%), while for 15% of the Spanish expats it’s the same as in their home country. As such, the language barrier is only a problem for one-fifth of Spanish expats (21%).
Expat Statistics 2015
Good Education Brings Great Jobs
Spaniards leave their home country for several reasons – some are looking for an adventure (11%), relocate because of a partner’s job or education (11%), or even move abroad simply to improve their language skills (4%). However, for almost half (48%) the main reason for the move was related to their work. That explains why the most predominant expat type among Spanish expats is the Foreign Assignee (29%). The majority of the Spaniards abroad (63%) are employees or managers (global average: 47%), while one in ten works in academia, and 8% are currently looking for work.
Compared to the global average, more Spanish expats who work do so full-time (93% vs. 86% worldwide), which seems to be paying off – the income is higher than back home for two-thirds (66%). Furthermore, Spanish expats are very well educated. Almost three-tenths have a Bachelor’s degree (29%) and an astonishing 57% graduated with a Master’s degree (globally, only 42% have done so), with a further 7% holding a PhD.
Spaniards abroad are also experienced travelers. For only 18% it’s their first stay abroad that’s longer than three months (global average: 28%), whereas 65% have stayed in up to three foreign countries before. Interestingly, though, only 11% want to stay in their current country of residence forever, compared to one-fourth of expats around the world who would like to put down roots permanently. The largest percentage of Spanish expats (43%) plans to stay in their respective host country between one and five years.
Spanish Love
Among those Spanish expats who are in a committed relationship (58%), circa three out of eight (37%) have a Spanish partner and of these 79% also met before their move abroad. Only one in five of the loved ones (21%) originate from the country where the Spanish survey participants are currently living, and the partners of 42% are neither from Spain nor from their current country of residence.
Three-fourths of the taken Spanish expatriates (74%) met their partner before becoming an expat and 40% of these moved abroad together. All in all, almost seven in ten (69%) are overall happy with their relationship and 36% even say they are completely satisfied.
Further Reading
- International Marriage and Relationships – common issues and different strategies
- Intercultural Communication – what is it, and why does it matter?
- Reverse Culture Shock – why returning home is not always easy
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Contact
Kathrin Chudoba
Editor in chief
Spanish Expats Mainly Move Abroad for Business
Career comes first for most of the Spanish expats – no surprise when seeing their high level of education and the ability to speak several languages.
The Spanish abroad like to mingle with fellow expats – almost half of the Spanish survey participants (48%) state they have mostly other expats as friends, whereas globally only 34% say so. Among their expat friends, one-fourth are mostly fellow Spaniards and 20% are predominantly from other countries, but speak the same language or share a similar culture. Only about one in nine (11%) claims to have mostly locals from their current country of residence as friends.
Most of the Spaniards abroad meet new people at work (63%), through friends of theirs (60%), and at expat events (38%). Since meeting new people is a lot easier when sharing a language, it is fortunate that the Spanish expatriates have an overall good command of languages – 73% (vs. a global 61%) are proficient in three or more languages. In addition, 37% say they speak the local language of their respective host country very well (global average: 29%), while for 15% of the Spanish expats it’s the same as in their home country. As such, the language barrier is only a problem for one-fifth of Spanish expats (21%).
Expat Statistics 2015
Good Education Brings Great Jobs
Spaniards leave their home country for several reasons – some are looking for an adventure (11%), relocate because of a partner’s job or education (11%), or even move abroad simply to improve their language skills (4%). However, for almost half (48%) the main reason for the move was related to their work. That explains why the most predominant expat type among Spanish expats is the Foreign Assignee (29%). The majority of the Spaniards abroad (63%) are employees or managers (global average: 47%), while one in ten works in academia, and 8% are currently looking for work.
Compared to the global average, more Spanish expats who work do so full-time (93% vs. 86% worldwide), which seems to be paying off – the income is higher than back home for two-thirds (66%). Furthermore, Spanish expats are very well educated. Almost three-tenths have a Bachelor’s degree (29%) and an astonishing 57% graduated with a Master’s degree (globally, only 42% have done so), with a further 7% holding a PhD.
Spaniards abroad are also experienced travelers. For only 18% it’s their first stay abroad that’s longer than three months (global average: 28%), whereas 65% have stayed in up to three foreign countries before. Interestingly, though, only 11% want to stay in their current country of residence forever, compared to one-fourth of expats around the world who would like to put down roots permanently. The largest percentage of Spanish expats (43%) plans to stay in their respective host country between one and five years.
Spanish Love
Among those Spanish expats who are in a committed relationship (58%), circa three out of eight (37%) have a Spanish partner and of these 79% also met before their move abroad. Only one in five of the loved ones (21%) originate from the country where the Spanish survey participants are currently living, and the partners of 42% are neither from Spain nor from their current country of residence.
Three-fourths of the taken Spanish expatriates (74%) met their partner before becoming an expat and 40% of these moved abroad together. All in all, almost seven in ten (69%) are overall happy with their relationship and 36% even say they are completely satisfied.
Further Reading
- International Marriage and Relationships – common issues and different strategies
- Intercultural Communication – what is it, and why does it matter?
- Reverse Culture Shock – why returning home is not always easy
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Kathrin Chudoba
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