Gen Y: young, educated, and globally mobile

Using the Batchbook for iPhone. Photo: AJ Leon / Flickr

Lots of people want to travel, right?  Who wouldn’t?  However, precise numbers are hard to come by.  Gallup, a polling organization, spent 2007-2010 asking this question to young people in 148 countries: “If you could move permanently to another country, to which country would you move?”

To see their answers, check out this cool infographic: Youth Movement.  The researchers specifically targeted people aged 15-29 and educated adults.

It won’t surprise anyone to know that Europe is still popular.  According to the statistics, France and Spain were seen as attractive places to live.  Singapore crushes the competition though, with numbers far higher than its competitors.

This issue goes beyond travel.  A young, educated workforce is a key driver of economic growth.  Whether governments realize it or not, they’re competing with each other in a global talent war.  As this unfolds, some countries will see a brain drain; others a brain gain.

TechCrunch had a story called Why Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are returning home.  The writer commented on an NBC news report where startup founders were having trouble getting visas to stay in the United States.  The videos are also included.  In a revealing roundtable discussion, several of these young CEOs talked about the enticing incentives offered by their home countries.  The Canadian provincial government of Ontario will reimburse 50% of staff salaries.  Singapore will match any capital raised by an entrepreneur to the tune of $4 for every $1 of investment.  If these innovators go somewhere, they will take the jobs with them.

Have you ever wanted to window-shop for a new country to live in?  Here’s a great tool: If It Were My Home is a web app that pulls up statistics for two countries and compares them directly.  You can pick your home and your dream destination, then see how they stack up on your employment prospects, life expectancy, wealth and more.  Many of the figures are compiled from the CIA Factbook, so take that as you may.

Have you ever been to a place that you fell in love with?  What’s your ideal location?