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5 Amazing Countries to Work Abroad in 2023
5 Amazing Countries to Work Abroad in 2023
Living and working abroad is a fantastic way to learn about the world, yourself, and what it means to be a global citizen. As the world becomes more and more interconnected, a growing number of people are seeking work outside of their home country, but deciding where to go abroad can be difficult.
To help you find your dream job abroad, we’ve compiled a list of the best countries to work abroad. In creating this list, we considered various factors, including work-life balance and happiness indices, the cost of living, the ease of getting a work visa, and the job opportunities in the country. With that, our goal is to provide a variety of options not limited to the most traditional expat destinations.
So, where will you go? Let’s check out the 10 best countries to work abroad to decide!
1. Great for seasonal work: New Zealand
Cost of living: $927 (1,563 NZD) a month + rent
💰 Average Salary: $3,323 (5,603 NZD) a month
⏰ Work visa duration: 12 – 23 months based on residency
😊 Happiness index ranking: 10
If you’re a young adult looking to expand your perspective through a grand adventure and plan to fund it with intermediate work along the way, New Zealand may be the perfect destination for you! From adventure sports companies to tour operators to farmers, there are seemingly endless short-term and seasonal employment opportunities throughout the country.
New Zealand regularly ranks among the happiest countries globally, including a 10th place ranking on The Global Economy 2022 Happiness index. The laid-back culture and emphasis on a healthy work-life balance create a truly unique atmosphere. Kiwis are also extremely friendly, and most travelers find it quite easy to adapt to life in New Zealand as a result.
As a remote island nation, the cost of living in New Zealand is high so it’s important to budget appropriately if you want to build savings while working there. You’ll find that most job opportunities outside of agriculture will be in or around Auckland, Wellington, or smaller, tourist towns like Queenstown. Work exchange programs are popular to mitigate this for those looking for short-term work opportunities to supplement travel.
✅ Pros:
- Relaxed work-life balance
- Progressive and welcoming government and citizens
❌ Cons:
- Limited career mobility within certain fields due to small population
- Life can feel fairly quiet and isolated
How to get a work visa in New Zealand
New Zealand offers a working holiday scheme to residents from specific countries throughout the world. The working holiday visa permits work and travel throughout New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you are a citizen of the UK or Canada.
To learn more about acquiring a visa to work in New Zealand, visit the New Zealand Immigration web portal.
How to find work in New Zealand
Start your job search well before the season you plan to be employed during. If you want to work during the ski season, check out NZSki. Agriculture work is often listed on Seasonal Jobs New Zealand. Additionally, check out the Go Overseas Job Board and filter by job type to find recent job postings.
2. Great for jobs in research and academia: The Netherlands
Cost of living: $975 (€972) a month + rent
💰 Average Salary: $3,025 (€3,017) a month
⏰ Work visa duration: Indefinent with a company sponsor
😊 Happiness index ranking: 5
A favorite destination among expats due to its quality of life and work-life balance, the Netherlands is another excellent option for working abroad. The Netherlands actively seeks out international entrepreneurs and has many great programs to help them invest in local companies or start their own businesses, big and small.
The Netherlands is a safe country with great social programs and a strong economy. Additionally, the Netherlands is on the cutting edge of research and academia, and expats will find abundant opportunities to work in these fields. With a strong focus on sustainable energy and a clean environment, the Netherlands is also a great place to find work in tech or energy.
Working in the Netherlands requires a company sponsor for non-European citizens, and the cost of living is relatively high, so this is a destination for career-minded international workers and is not as suitable for short-term or temporary work. If you dream of finding a career in the Netherlands but aren’t sure where to start, consider getting an internship there first.
✅ Pros:
- The vast majority of Dutch people speak English
- Low crime rates
❌ Cons:
- It can be hard to make friends with local people due to close-knit social circles
- Salaries are high but expenses are also high
How to get a work visa in the Netherlands
It can be a challenge to obtain a working visa in the Netherlands, but the rewards outweigh the effort if you’re up for it. A traditional work visa requires you to have an employer willing to sponsor you and will expire when you leave the company.
The Netherlands has other programs to help international workers enter the country. The start-up visa allows investors to reside in the Netherlands for one year to develop a new innovative business idea. The government also provides you with the assistance of a local mentor to help your business grow. The Netherlands also encourages small businesses through its freelance and self-employment visa.
How to find work in The Netherlands
LinkedIn is a great place to network and search for jobs in The Netherlands. As a tech-forward country, most openings will be advertised online and accessible through top international job search sites.
3. Great for teaching English (TEFL): South Korea
Cost of living: $962 (1,340,114 KRW) a month + rent
💰 Average Salary: $2,210 (3,078,640 KRW) a month
⏰ Work visa duration: 12 months
😊 Happiness index ranking: 55
While all types of jobs are available to international workers, especially those fluent in English, South Korea stands out as one of the best destinations to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL). Whether employed by the Korean Ministry of Education (EPIK) program or a private institution, English teachers will be paid a highly competitive wage and find students eager to learn. Additionally, work benefits and the low cost of living in Korea provide teachers with a high standard of living and the opportunity to build savings.
In Korea, be prepared to work longer hours than you are used to — as Korea has the longest working hours of any developed nation! This is a contributor to its relatively low ranking on the happiness index and means you won’t get the work-life balance in Korea that you do in many of the other locations on this list.
Despite the long work week, Korea has a lot to offer. From the bustling metropolis of Seoul to the stunning natural beauty of Korea’s interior, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Seoul, Busan, and Daegu have sizable expat communities, rich nightlives, and, most importantly — delicious food. Living and working in Korea is sure to be an experience of a lifetime for any international worker.
✅ Pros:
- Work environments are collaborative and friendly
- Jobs often come with great benefits like accommodation
❌ Cons:
- If homesick, finding grocery products from home can be challenging
- Employees often work longer hours than they are contracted for due to pressure to perform
How to get a work visa in South Korea
Obtaining a working visa in Korea is relatively easy. The fastest and easiest way to get a working visa in Korea is to become an English teacher under Korea’s “E-2” visa.
If teaching is not your cup of tea, South Korea has agreements with some Western countries that allow workers to enter on a “working holiday” visa for up to a year. A “looking for work” visa allows travelers to live in Korea for up to six months while seeking a job.
How to find work in South Korea
The Korean Ministry of Education and National Institute for International Education operate English Program in Korea (EPIK), with the goal of developing the English skills of Korean students. Apply directly through the EPIK web portal. Private teaching jobs are also available. Check out the Go Overseas Job Board for the latest listings.
4. Great for work exchanges; Australia
Cost of living: $996 (1,537 AUD) a month + rent
💰 Average salary: $3,684 (5,685 AUD) a month
⏰ Work visa duration: 12 months
😊 Happiness index ranking: 12
Australia consistently ranks highly as a country with excellent quality of life, standards of living, and overall happiness. Additionally, it holds a top-10 Human Development Index (HDI) ranking, globally. People here enjoy a great work-life balance – and it is not hard to enjoy your time outside the office in such a beautiful country. Even though the cost of living is quite high in Australia, expats can still live comfortably thanks to the relatively high minimum wage.
Australia is an excellent choice for travelers looking for a work exchange experience. With an easy visa scheme, Australia is one of the most convenient countries to find a work exchange program. Organizations like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) align volunteers with farms in exchange for food and board. WWOOF has been operating in Australia for over 40 years, providing safe, rewarding work exchange programs to thousands of volunteers.
From its wide-open outback, pristine beaches, and cosmopolitan cities, Australia has it all. Sydney and Melbourne are known for their multicultural population, making it extremely easy for an expat to adjust to life in Australia. Additionally, the need for labor in the agriculture industry across Australia and the lack of a language barrier for English speakers make Australia a formidable destination to beat.
✅ Pros:
- High salaries
- Fun and inclusive work culture
❌ Cons:
- Long wait times for public transport in major cities
- Expensive cost of living for certain things like groceries and produce
How to get a work visa in Australia
The process for obtaining a visa to work in Australia is roughly identical to that of New Zealand. Australia also has a “working holiday” visa scheme that allows foreigners of certain nationalities to enter the country for 12 months. Likewise, there are working visas available for international workers that pass a skills assessment similar to that of New Zealand.
To learn more about acquiring a visa to work in Australia, visit the Department of Home Affairs visa finder.
How to find work in Australia
There are established organizations like WWOOF that will connect you directly with a work exchange host who provides meals and lodging in exchange for up to 36 hours of work a week. Workaway is another popular resource for matching travelers with homestays, work exchanges, and volunteer opportunities.
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5. Great for engineering jobs; Germany
Cost of living: $886 (€883) a month + rent
💰 Average salary: $2,908 (€2,900) a month
⏰ Work visa duration: 12 months
😊 Happiness index ranking: 15
As one of the leading economies globally (per GDP) and among the largest exporters of goods, Germany is filled with incredible opportunities for career-minded people looking to work abroad, especially engineers. Many global corporations have offices in Germany, meaning there are opportunities for English-speaking positions, although the job hunt will be more challenging. Fortunately, most Germans have strong English proficiency, so the language barrier is manageable.
The enriching culture and unbeatable work-life balance make Germany a great place to build a career overseas. People work less (about 27 hours per week) and live better as a result! Excellent healthcare, generous paid leave, and unforgettable experiences await you in Germany. You may also want to consider an internship in Germany if you’re a young adult looking to take your career to the next level.
The cost of living can be higher than what you are used to, but living in Germany can be less expensive than in many other European cities, depending on where you find a job. Every city has something different to offer, making it perfect for any expat. The larger cities remain the most popular among international workers, with Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt having the largest expat communities. Regardless of where you end up, you’ll get a taste of the eclectic charm that is characteristic of this innovative European country.
✅ Pros:
- Excellent social welfare system
- Quick and efficient public transportation
❌ Cons:
- Germans can be private and reserved at first, making it challenging to make friends
- High tax rate
How to get a work visa in Germany
Applying for a working visa can be challenging, but there are ways to obtain a permit to work and live in Germany. Nationals of most Western countries can apply for a job seeker (aka looking for work) visa that allows you to line up a job while in the country and then apply for a working visa after securing a work contract.
To learn more about acquiring a visa to work in Germany, visit the Employment in Germany web portal.
How to find work in Germany
Finding work within your career field in Germany will be more difficult if you don’t speak German. Linkedin allows you to filter available jobs by industry, type of work, and the language in which the job can be performed. Additionally, join expat Facebook groups and attend international job fairs in your local area
As Wale Edun Re-awakens an Economy on the Edge of Collapse
When President Bola Tinubu appointed Olawale Edun as Nigeria’s finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy in August 2023, many analysts wondered how he, alongside his colleagues in the fiscal and monetary authorities, would rejig an economy on the edge of total collapse.
A few months before the appointment was announced, Tinubu had just won a brutally disputed February 2023 presidential election, which was being challenged by his main opponents in court at the time. Vice President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, both came second and third in the keenly contested elections. Both men claimed that the elections were rigged, and that Tinubu should be so removed from office.
Although Tinubu’s elections would later be confirmed by the election tribunals and the Supreme Court, the administration at the time faced serious legitimacy issues.
In that sense, among market analysts and economic experts, Wale Edun’s job was considered near-impossible.
It is important to state clearly that the scepticism that trailed his appointment didn’t stem from any doubt about Wale Edun’s expertise and competence to drive the reform; far from it!
In fact, he came very prepared for the job, as results of the past few months have shown.
Olawale Edun has a background in merchant banking, corporate finance, economics and international finance at both national and international levels. He is a former Chair of ChapelHillDenham Group, Lagos, a leading investment bank. He was an executive director of Lagos merchant bank, Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited, now Stanbic IBTC. He is also the Chair of Livewell Initiative, a not for profit organisation that specialises in health literacy advocacy and practical training in Nigeria, and a Trustee of Sisters Unite for Children, a not for profit institution that focuses on helping street children in Lagos.
But there were just too many hurdles for the President Bola Tinubu government to cross at the time, amid poor fiscal position, widespread poverty, dwindling revenues and drifting economy.
At the time of Edun’s appointment, Nigeria’s inflation rose to an 18-year high in July 2023. The country also faced widespread insecurity, mounting debt burden, high unemployment and slow growth which stoked tension among the population already struggling with a high cost of living.
To rejig the economy, Tinubu decided to embark on some of the boldest reforms that Nigeria has seen in years, including scrapping a popular but costly petrol subsidy and removing exchange rate restrictions.
Consequently, the naira weakened to record lows amid sky-high inflation and poverty.
Gains of Reforms
But in recent months, the pains witnessed by Nigerians seem to be paying off gradually as the gains of reforms are now manifesting.
Nothing demonstrates the confidence being restored in the local economy like how Nigeria recently achieved a milestone with its first-ever domestic dollar bond, which was oversubscribed by 180%.
Initially aiming to raise $500 million, the government finally secured $900 million in commitments. This result surprised many, given Nigeria’s fragile economic situation.
Wale Edun described the bond as a landmark for the country’s domestic market, adding that this success demonstrates investors’ confidence in the country’s ability to turn the economy around.
The bond, with a 9.75% coupon paid semi-annually over five years (an effective rate of 9.99%), is aimed at financing strategic projects in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure. The bond is part of a broader $2 billion program registered with Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the terms of the issuance, the government has the option to absorb additional subscriptions up to the program’s full $2 billion limit.
The 180% oversubscription was indeed a major victory, drawing interest from Nigerian investors, the diaspora, and international institutions.
But before then, there has equally been some gains in the economy, all pointing towards Edun—-and indeed Tinubu’s—-rejig of the economy.
Already, the Federal Government no longer depends on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund its emerging obligations,a major part of the fruits being yielded by ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and ramp up revenues.
In September, Edun said the government has exited the use of Ways and Means advances for meeting emerging financing obligations, a practice that had been rampant until recently.
Within the periods, the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria cleared all outstanding matured and verified FX backlogs totaling $6 billion owed to various creditors, including foreign airlines.
All of the payments were without any depletion in the nation’s foreign reserves. Rather, the reserves have risen to a high of $41 billion, even as the nation remains at a far better fiscal position than it was before the new government came in, now meeting its obligations to creditors without hassles.
In recent months, it has become equally obvious that government was working to plug all loopholes and optimise Nigeria’s financial potential by ensuring that the country’s sovereign assets are fully harnessed for growth and development. Nigeria has huge stranded assets, which the government is expected to unlock to boost its financing liquidity, and efforts are being directed towards this path in recent months.
Another major gain of the government’s macroeconomic reforms is that the country now records a monthly net inflow of about $2.35 billion into its foreign exchange (forex) reserves in the recent months, an inrease that has contributed significantly to the stability of the naira in the forex market. Consequently, between Monday and today, Wednesday, the Naira has gained over N140 in the parallel market while strengthening and stabilizing in the orthodox market.
One equally important development that demonstrates the efficacy of Edun’s managerial competence was evident in the recent endorsement of the economic reforms by the International Monetary Fund. In her engagement with President Tinubu in November, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, commended Nigeria’s economic reforms under the leadership of Tinubu.
The IMF chief highlighted the progress made by Nigeria in its quest for economic stability and assured that the IMF remains strongly committed to supporting Nigeria on its path to recovery and sustained development.
What all of these have shown is that while reforms championed by Edun, Cardoso and others can be painful and tortuous, the gains can only reset a collapsing economy and fix a better future for younger Nigerians.
Like Georgieva said, the reform will surely “accelerate growth and generate jobs for its (Nigeria’s) vibrant population.” Surely, Wale Edun and others deserve all the support they can get.
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