Slightly less than half (46%) of surveyed IT specialists consider the possibility of relocating to another country. Only 2% are actively seeking opportunities to move and are currently looking for relocation options.
39% are theoretically open to relocating, but they are not actively planning to do so. Among them, 21% are only willing to move if it results in a salary increase or career advancement, and 9% are willing to move without a guaranteed salary increase but either haven’t seriously considered it or don’t see opportunities for relocation
The following demographics are significantly more likely to express a lack of willingness to relocate abroad:
- Individuals aged 45-70 years old;
- Individuals with a monthly income of 100,000 rubles or less;
- Individuals who do not speak foreign languages;
- Individuals who are interested in politics;
- Individuals who do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life;
- Individuals who do not consider moving to another region of Russia.
Respondents who are more likely to express an active desire and search for opportunities to move abroad are:
- Individuals aged 18-29 years old;
- Individuals with a monthly income of 451,000 rubles or more;
- Individuals who actively desire to move to another region of Russia.
Those who are more likely to indicate that they are theoretically willing to relocate for various reasons (either related or unrelated to increased income) but are not actively planning or seeing opportunities for relocation include:
- Individuals aged 18-29 years old;
- Individuals with a monthly income of 101,000 rubles or more (especially those earning 251,000 – 450,000 rubles);
- Individuals who speak foreign languages;
- Individuals who are not interested in politics;
- Individuals who believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life;
- Individuals who are considering moving to another region of Russia for various reasons;
- Individuals who actively desire to move to another region of Russia.
Work satisfaction and career ambitions
The vast majority (85%) of respondents are satisfied with their jobs: 29% are completely satisfied, and 56% are rather satisfied.
Respondents generally rate various aspects of their work relatively highly. The highest ratings were given to compliance with labor laws (8.6 points on a 10-point scale, where 10 is «very good»), relations with colleagues (8.3 points), enjoyment from their work (8.1 points), and societal respect for their work (8.1 points). The lowest ratings were given to career perspectives (7.3 points) and earnings level (7.2 points).
Approximately seven out of ten respondents (69%) are interested in career advancement: 34% are actively pursuing career growth, while 35% would be happy with a promotion but aren’t actively seeking it. 17% are not interested in career growth but would accept a promotion if offered. 5% express a lack of desire for career advancement, being content with their current positions. The work of 7% of respondents does not offer any potential for career advancement.
Income comparative evaluation and possibility of profession change
Approximately six out of ten respondents (61%) believe that professionals in their field globally enjoy a higher quality of life than those in Russia. About one-third (31%) perceive the quality of life globally to be roughly equivalent to that in Russia.
Two-thirds of respondents (66%) rate the quality of life for professionals in their field in Western countries as higher than in Russia on average. Approximately one-quarter (23%) assess the quality of life as roughly on par with Russia.
The vast majority of respondents (85%) consider the possibility of changing jobs without changing their profession. Only 14% do not consider this option. Approximately six out of ten (59%) cite a higher income (salary, bonuses, etc.) as a potential motivator for changing jobs. 36% mention greater job satisfaction, better working conditions, and material security. 24-25% cite increased job security and attractive career opportunities.
Two-thirds of respondents (66%) do not consider changing their profession. Only 9% are considering this possibility. The most popular options for a career switch (1.1-1.3% each) are creative fields (design, directing, music, etc.) and professions related to their current field, such as programming.
Among those considering a career change, more than half (58%) cite a desire to try something new as their primary motivation. The next most popular reasons are dissatisfaction with their current salary (41%) and burnout (40%).
Half of those who don’t consider a career change (50%) most frequently attribute this to complete satisfaction with their current profession. The next most popular reasons are lower earnings in other professions and the difficulty of switching careers due to age (19% each).Internal migration potential
63% of respondents are satisfied with the situation in their region (11% are definitely satisfied, and 52% are somewhat satisfied). 30% express dissatisfaction with the situation.
- Two out of five respondents (40%) do not consider moving to another region of Russia. Reluctance to move to another region is significantly more common among those aged 45-70, with the lowest (50,000 rubles or less) or highest (451,000 rubles or more) monthly income, who don’t speak foreign languages and are not considering moving to another country
- 36% are only willing to move if it involves a significant salary increase or career advancement.
Men, respondents aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 51-100,000 rubles or 251-450,000 rubles, who do not believe that every nation has the right to its own independent state, and those who are willing to move to another country for a salary increase, are more likely to consider moving for career or salary-related reasons. - 10% would be willing to move for reasons unrelated to career or earnings, but haven’t seriously considered it.
Those who are willing to move without career-related motivations, but haven’t seriously considered the idea, are more common among respondents with a monthly family income of 101-250,000 rubles or 451,000 rubles or more, and among those who are considering moving to another country without a salary increase. - 7% would be willing to move without career-related motivations but don’t see any real opportunities for doing so.
Respondents who are considering moving to another region without career-related motivations but who don’t see such opportunities are more common among women, those aged 18-29, with a monthly family income of 50,000 rubles or less, and among those considering moving to another country without a salary increase. - 3% express a desire to move and are actively seeking relocation opportunities.
A desire to move and an active search for relocation opportunities in another region are significantly more prevalent among respondents aged 18-29 and those who actively want to move to another country.
Among those who consider moving to another region for career or salaryrelated reasons, 41% say they would be willing to move if their income doubled, 38% if it tripled, and 16% if it increased by five times or more.
Those who are significantly more likely to relocate if their income doubles are those aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 101-450,000 rubles (especially 251-450,000 rubles), and those who are considering moving to another country for a higher salary or are already actively planning to move to another country.
The willingness to move to another region if income triples is more common among women, respondents aged 30-44, with a monthly income of 51-100,000 rubles, those who are considering moving to another country without a salary increase, and those who do not speak foreign languages.
Two-thirds of those who consider moving to another region without a salary increase (66%) cite a more pleasant urban environment as the reason. The next most popular reasons are the nature of relationships between people (31%) and the economic situation (25%).
The following groups are significantly more likely to cite a better urban environment: individuals aged 45-70, with a monthly income of 50,000 rubles or less, those who are not considering moving to another country, who are actively seeking to relocate. The same attitudes are found more often among those who do not speak foreign languages, who are not interested in politics, and who do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high standard of living.
Women, respondents with a monthly income of 251-450,000 rubles, those considering moving to another country without a salary increase, and those who actively want to relocate to another country, are significantly more likely to mention the nature of relationships between people.
For those who are theoretically willing to relocate but don’t see opportunities for doing so, the most significant barrier to moving to another region is difficulty to find housing (ranked 1.8 on a scale of 1 to 3, where 1 is most significant and 3 is least significant). The second most significant barrier is the inability to relocate with loved ones (ranked 2.0). The third most significant barrier is difficulty to find employment in another region (ranked 2.1).
About half of those who are not considering moving to another region (48%) attribute this to satisfaction with their current life in their region. The next most popular reasons are unwillingness to change their lifestyle and familiar environment (32%) and the inability to relocate with loved ones or difficulties for loved ones (25%).
Those aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 451,000 rubles or more, those who are considering moving to another country for a salary increase or who are actively seeking to relocate to another country, those who do not speak foreign languages, and those who do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high standard of living are significantly more likely to cite satisfaction with their life in their region.
For those who are actively planning to move to another region of Russia, the most significant challenge is finding housing (ranked 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 3, where 1 is most significant and 3 is least significant). The second most significant challenge is finding a job (ranked 2.1). The third most significant challenge is relocating loved ones (ranked 2.4).
Among those who desire to relocate and are actively seeking such opportunities, slightly less than half (45%) state that their plans are not workrelated and that they intend to search for employment after relocating. 31% are currently searching for suitable vacancies, 10% have already found a suitable vacancy, and 14% were unable to provide an answer.
The most appealing regions for relocation (for those who are considering this option) are Southern Russia (Krasnodar Krai etc., 6%), St. Petersburg (6%), and Moscow (4%).
Emigration potential
- More than half of respondents (54%) do not consider the possibility of moving to another country.
Reluctance to move to another country is significantly more common among those aged 45-70, with a monthly income of 100,000 rubles or less, who are interested in politics, do not speak foreign languages, do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life, and are not considering moving to another region within Russia. - 21% are only willing to move abroad if it involves a significant salary increase or career advancement.
The possibility of moving for career or salary-related reasons is more common among men, respondents aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 101-450,000 rubles, who are not interested in politics, and who believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life. It is also more common among those who are willing to move to another region for a salary increase or who actively want to relocate to another region. - 9% would be willing to move for reasons unrelated to career or earnings, but haven’t seriously considered it.
Those who are willing to move to another country without careerrelated motivations but haven’t seriously considered the idea are more common among those aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 251,000 rubles or more, who are considering moving to another region for various reasons and who are not interested in politics. - 9% would be willing to move without career-related motivations but don’t see any real opportunities for doing so.
Respondents who are considering moving to another country without career-related motivations but who don’t see such opportunities are more common among women, those aged 18-29, who are considering moving to another region without a salary increase or who actively want to relocate to another region. - 2% express a desire to move to another country and are actively seeking relocation opportunities.
A desire to move and an active search for relocation opportunities are significantly more prevalent among respondents aged 18-29, with a monthly income of 451,000 rubles or more and those who actively want to move to another region.
Among those who consider moving to another country for career or salary-related reasons, 40% say they would be willing to move if their income increased five times or more, 39% if it tripled, and 18% if it doubled.
The willingness to move to another country if income increases five times or more is more common among women, respondents aged 30-44, with a monthly income of 51-100,000 rubles, who are considering moving to another region without a salary increase and who do not speak foreign languages. This is also more common among those who do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life and those who do not believe that every nation has the right to an independent state.
Those considering moving if income triples are more likely to be found among those aged 45-70, with a monthly income of 101-450,000 rubles, and who believe in a connection between democracy and a high standard of living.
More than half of those who consider moving to another country without a salary increase (55%) cite the economic situation as the reason for their consideration. The next most popular reasons are the level of social guarantees (43%) and a more pleasant urban environment (41%).
Men, those aged 18-29 or 45-70, with a monthly income of 50,000 rubles or less or 251-450,000 rubles, who actively want to move to another region, are interested in politics, believe in a connection between democracy and a high quality of life, and believe that every nation has the right to an independent state, are significantly more likely to mention the economic situation.
For those who are theoretically willing to relocate but don’t see opportunities for doing so, the most significant barriers to moving to another country are difficulties finding employment in the new location and the inability to obtain a visa or residence permit (both ranked 2.3 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is most significant and 5 is least significant). The least significant barrier to relocation is learning a new language (ranked 3.1).
About half of those who are not considering moving to another country (53%) attribute this to satisfaction with their life in Russia. The next most popular reasons are unwillingness to change their lifestyle and familiar environment (29%) and the inability to relocate with loved ones or difficulties for loved ones (19%).
Women, those with a monthly income of 451,000 rubles or more, who are considering moving to another region without a salary increase, and those who do not believe in a connection between democracy and a high standard of living are significantly more likely to cite satisfaction with their life in Russia.
For those actively planning to move to another country, the most significant challenge is obtaining legal work permit (ranked 3.2 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is most significant and 5 is least significant). This is followed by learning the language (ranked 3.4), obtaining a visa / residence permit (ranked 3.5), and finding a job (ranked 3.5).
Among those who desire to relocate abroad and are actively seeking such opportunities, about half (52%) are currently searching for suitable vacancies, 24% have already found a suitable vacancy, and 19% are not linking their move with employment and plan to search for work after relocating.
The most appealing countries for relocation (for those considering this option) are European countries (United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, etc.; 18%), the United States (7%), and Asian countries (China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.; 4%).
Worldview, values and experience of respondents
The most important aspects of life for most respondents are family and financial well-being (both scoring 8.9 points on a 10-point scale, where 10 is «very important»). The next most important aspects are personal (8.5 points) and professional growth (8.4 points). The least important area is participation in public life (6.4 points).
Among political statements, the most popular is «The state has the right to decide which immigrants to accept and which not to accept» (8.2 points on a 10-point scale, where 10 is «completely agree»). The second most popular statement is «Every nation has the right to its own independent state» (8.0 points). Respondents were least likely to agree with the statements «I am generally not interested in politics» and «Government intervention is bad for the economy» (both scoring 5.9 points).
About two out of five respondents (43%) say they have regularly donated money to charity. About one-third have done volunteer work (32%) and created or developed their own businesses (31%). The least common activity among respondents is working in the arts or developing this sphere (20%).Proficiency in foreign languages and travel experience
84% of respondents speak one or more foreign languages, while 16% do not speak any foreign languages. Four out of five (80%) report speaking English, followed by German (12%).
Approximately two-thirds (65%) of respondents have traveled to foreign countries, excluding the CIS, while 35% have never done this. The average number of trips abroad (excluding the CIS) among respondents who have traveled is 4 times.
The most popular country among surveyed travelers is Turkey (19% have been there). The next most popular destinations are Italy (14%) and Germany (13%).