By Linette Lim | Posted: 02
May 2012 1431 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore has moved up two spots to
become the fourth most desirable place in the world to live and
work, according to a survey by recruitment firm Hydrogen and
business school ESCP Europe.
This is because Singapore has become an increasingly popular
destination for multinational corporations over the past few years,
said Hydrogen.
"We have seen companies from sectors as diverse as technology,
energy, pharmaceutical and wealth management open offices here. The
big question here is whether Singapore will become Asia's Silicon
Valley or its Switzerland," said Simon Walker, Hydrogen's Asia
MD.
While the three most popular places for survey respondents to live
and work remain the US, the UK and Australia, their dominance is
waning.
The report showed that 12 per cent picked the US as the top
relocation destination, down from 18 per cent last year.
The UK and Australia each got 9 per cent of the votes, down from 10
per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
As Singapore becomes an increasingly attractive relocation
destination for expatriates, Hydrogen said employers in the city
state are finding that they have the pick of the world's top
professional talent.
Mr Walker said: "Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the
world, and it offers a clean and healthy environment free from
traffic pollution.
"So it is not surprising that 88 per cent of those who have moved
to Singapore feel that their living conditions have
improved."
The report - which interviewed 2,353 people globally - also showed
that the workforce was getting more internationalised. For example,
72 per cent of respondents said their employers see international
experience as important or very important, up from 63 per cent in
2011.
- CNA/al
