Only 19% of South Africans abroad would come back

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Less than a quarter of South Africans currently living abroad are adamant about returning to the country, with those who intend to remain expats citing instability, safety and better work opportunities as the major reasons behind their decision.

In a world where opportunities are more global than ever, only 19% of South Africans currently living abroad have claimed they are "definitely" going to return home.

A new generation of highly educated are fleeing the country in search of better wages and working conditions.

A recent survey conducted by The TEFL Academy on South Africans currently living abroad revealed that 25% of respondents would "definitely not" be returning, 43% claimed to be "undecided", whereas only 19% were adamant about their prospects of returning back home.

Career

The biggest reason why many South Africans are choosing to live abroad is better job prospects. A follow-up survey conducted by The TEFL Academy on 948 South Africans who currently live or have lived abroad in the past revealed that nearly 40% went overseas in search of better opportunities.

One individual when surveyed claimed, "Even if there are job opportunities in SA, the money they offer is absolutely laughable. Not to mention how time-consuming it is. My degree taught me a lot and it helped me be a better teacher, but it didn't help me find work in my own country."

Cost of living

Interestingly, only 7,8% of those surveyed cited the high cost of living domestically as their reason for moving abroad.

While this suggests that South Africans may not be grappling with the cost of living as much as some politicians may have feared, they are aware that more lucrative and more stable pastures may be offered overseas.

The TEFL Academy conducted the online poll of South Africans aged 18+ in September 2023.

All respondents were alumni of The TEFL Academy. TEFL specialises in training programmes for individuals aspiring to "teach English as a foreign language" (TEFL).