165,000 UK professionals are now working abroad as digital nomads, study finds
The report from LiveCareer UK highlighted how remote work has enabled professionals, particularly in digital roles, to move abroad while maintaining employment.
An estimated 165,000 UK professionals are now living and working abroad as digital nomads, driven by lower living costs and improved work-life balance, according to research from LiveCareer UK.
The findings revealed the shift towards remote work is having a measurable economic impact, with the UK losing more than £3bn annually in consumer spending as workers relocate overseas.
The report highlighted how remote work has enabled professionals, particularly in digital and technology roles, to move abroad while maintaining employment.
Jobs in areas such as software development, data analysis, copywriting and UX design were identified as among the most mobile.
Southern Europe remained the most popular destination, with Spain and Portugal attracting the highest number of UK workers due to lower living costs, favourable visa schemes and established remote working communities.
Other destinations included Croatia and Estonia, which offer tax incentives and digital infrastructure for remote workers, as well as Thailand, where cities such as Chiang Mai provide significantly lower living costs alongside established international communities.
The research also pointed to a broader shift in how remote workers approach relocation, with many favouring longer stays in fewer locations, often described as the ‘slomad’ trend.
Despite the growth in outbound movement, the UK is seen as less attractive to inbound digital nomads.
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