Young Britons leaving UK earlier as confidence in future falls, report finds 

Young Britons are leaving the UK earlier than previous generations, as economic pressure and shifting career expectations reshape decisions about work and life, according to new research. 

The Great Gen Z Exodus report from The TEFL Academy, published on 02 April 2026, shows a clear shift towards people in their 20s moving abroad, with departures among those aged 20–29 reaching between 130,000 and 140,000 in the year to June 2025. This compares with around 92,000–95,000 in 2018. 

At the same time, emigration among those in their early 30s has fallen to between 55,000 and 65,000, down from around 78,000–81,000 in 2018. The data indicates that migration decisions are happening earlier, with Gen Z now driving the majority of youth emigration. 

Overall, around 195,000 Britons under 35 left the UK in the past year, accounting for 76 per cent of all British emigrants, according to analysis from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. 

The findings are based on a survey of young adults aged 18–34 alongside national migration and labour market data. They point to a growing confidence gap in the UK’s long-term prospects, particularly among younger workers. 

More than 86 per cent of respondents said UK wages do not reflect the cost of living, while 79 per cent reported feeling constant financial pressure. Confidence in long-term prospects in the UK was low, with respondents rating optimism about their future at 2.44 out of five. 

The research highlights a strong link between economic strain and decisions to leave, with many young professionals viewing international work as a way to improve both financial stability and quality of life. 

For employers, this trend presents a clear challenge for workplace health and wellbeing strategies. Financial stress, low confidence and limited perceived opportunity are key drivers of disengagement, absence and turnover. As younger workers reassess where they can build sustainable careers, organisations face increasing pressure to demonstrate how they support not just wellbeing, but long-term life prospects. 

International mobility is also becoming more embedded in career planning. Among those surveyed, 33 per cent had already moved abroad, while 26 per cent were actively planning to leave and 30 per cent were seriously considering it. 

Improving quality of life was the most cited reason for relocating, alongside better work-life balance. More than half of respondents, 54 per cent, said staying in the UK could hold back their long-term potential. 

Destination preferences reflect both economic and lifestyle considerations. Asia was the most popular choice, cited by 47 per cent of respondents, followed by Europe at 26 per cent and Australia or New Zealand at 17 per cent. 

The findings also suggest a broader shift in how younger generations define career success. Developing global skills and gaining international experience are increasingly seen as essential, rather than optional. 

Rhyan O’Sullivan, Managing Director at The TEFL Academy, said: “Young Britons aren’t running away from the UK, they’re running toward opportunity. For many graduates, teaching English abroad offers a practical way to gain international experience, improve quality of life and build global careers.” 

The report concludes that this is not a short-term trend but a structural change in behaviour. As economic pressure and expectations around work continue to evolve, younger workers are redefining where and how they build their futures. 

For UK employers, the implications are significant. Retaining talent will increasingly depend on how organisations respond to financial wellbeing, career development and broader life satisfaction, not just traditional workplace benefits.