Defining expatriation trends for 2019 is complex and depends on several factors. Many economies have seen significant growth in their markets, opening the doors to multinationals and internationalization. Added to this is a new generation of expats, with new knowledge, much more skilled in new technologies, and eager to cross borders to develop their professional careers.

Some important aspects to consider, in addition to the growth of the international market, are the increase in employment, immigration and foreign relations policies, quality of life, and the need to fill new positions with specialists in innovative professions, among others.

According to a recent analysis by the Institute for Economic Studies (IEE). Significant job growth is expected in the following countries in 2019:

Turkey

Luxembourg

Ireland

Spain

Israel

Australia

Netherlands

Greece

New Zealand

Slovenia

The growth of these economies could drive significant corporate relocations, especially in emerging professions such as the following:

Nanotechnology experts and developers

Cybersecurity experts

Home automation developers and technicians

Recycling engineers

Data management specialist, data analyst, GDPR officer, and Big Data expert

Software developers

Renewable or alternative energy technicians and experts

Industrial designers, architects, and 3D and augmented reality experts

Specialists in programming, design, supervision, and maintenance of robotic systems and artificial intelligence

IT Professionals

Economics and business experts in Asia and the Middle East

Biological scientists, physicians, and pharmacists

Another aspect to consider is the country’s openness to foreigners, opportunities for professional growth, and domestic policies. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs highlights the following countries as offering significant opportunities for foreign markets:

Germany

Canada

Australia

United Arab Emirates

Colombia

Spain

Mexico

United States and United Kingdom (although these two have tightened their immigration policies, and it remains to be seen whether they will make any significant changes in 2019).

Previously, the dominant markets with the greatest growth and economic power were construction, the automotive industry, and finance. However, today, this ranking is dominated by Information and Communications Technology and the consumer market, with companies such as Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Alibaba at the top of the list.

Without a doubt, we have an interesting 2019 ahead of us, as we await the evolution of new e-commerce and startups, with a clear rise in female leadership, as we await the adoption of new technologies in companies, and with a much more globalized generation with a greater capacity to adapt to the cultural challenges of expatriation.