A survey of 1,000 UK adults, carried out by Europe’s number one sports retailer, Decathlon, found that although 55% of 18-35 year-olds and have travelled internationally for work at least three times in the past year – some as many as seven times – just 32% were satisfied with the amount of air miles clocked up during this time.
What’s more, 63% of respondents in the 18-35 bracket also said that they would be more likely to accept a job that offered round-the-world opportunities; 21% higher than the average figure across all age groups.
When quizzed on why they would like to travel more, 53% of 18-35 year olds said they think it would make their job more exciting, with 23% also saying they don’t like to be tied to one place in their career or life.
Almost in five (17%) also said they think international travel with their work is glamorous, with another 43% stating that they feel more valued by their employer if they are required to represent the company on trips abroad. This group of workers also said it’s a cost-effective way of seeing the world 37% – and can help improve their social media feeds.
What’s more, 19% said they would be likely or very likely to leave their current job within the next 12 months to go travelling due to a lack of opportunities to satisfy their wanderlust in their role. This rises to almost half (47%) of 18-24 year-olds.
Thibault Peeters, CEO at Decathlon UK, commented: “Cheaper air fares and the increasing influence of social media has made it both easier and more desirable for Generation Z to travel the world on a regular basis. Indeed, research shows that many young consumers make decisions on their next holiday destination based on how “Instagrammable” it will be.
“However, it’s interesting to see how this also translates into their working lives – and it’s something that employers should pay close attention to as the line between “work” and “leisure” continues to blur. This is a group of people who have grown up in the shadow of Snapchat and Instagram and are always looking for something they can share to connect with others.”
