Global expat survey: Canada rolls out a 'mosaic carpet', best country worldwide when it comes to welcoming and supporting diversity

** Share via Twitter: World's largest survey of expats: #Canada most welcoming country worldwide regardless of faith, race, gender, sexuality #HSBCreport www.hsbc.ca/expat 

VANCOUVER, Sept. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - According to HSBC`s latest global report – Expat Explorer: Balancing life abroad – expats¹ say Canada is the number one country in the world when it comes to welcoming people from abroad regardless of their faith, race, gender and/or sexuality. Furthermore, Canada ranked 6^th overall out of 39 countries and territories worldwide, remaining a top draw for expats with growing families, as well as for those looking to retire outside of their home country.

Expat Explorer
Overall Country Ranking

1)   Singapore

2)   New Zealand

3)   Sweden

4)   Bahrain

5)   Germany

6)   Canada

7)   Australia

8)   Taiwan

9)   UAE

10) Switzerland

Part of the world`s largest and longest-running research series on expat life, the latest Expat Explorer report is based on a 2015 survey of 21,950 expats across 198 countries – including 496 respondents in Canada. View the full report at www.hsbc.ca/expat

Betty Miao, Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management for HSBC Bank Canada said: "What the latest research shows is that rather than aiming purely for higher wages or instant career success, many expats move to improve their overall life experience, seek a personal challenge or learn new skills.  In fact, not only do expats feel Canada is one of the most diverse and inclusive destinations worldwide, they are also some of the most likely in the world to say that, above all, they came to Canada to improve their quality of life."

Report highlights for expats in Canada:

1) Canada welcomes you… and you... and you! Expats rank Canada as the most welcoming destination worldwide regardless of a person's age, faith, race, gender or sexuality (62% of expats surveyed in Canada feel this way, well above the global average of 36%). Furthermore, more than half (51%) of those surveyed say they feel "people can be open about their sexuality at work and with local friends" – almost twice the global average (26%) and second only to expats in New Zealand (62%).

2) Canada top-ten destination globally.  Canada ranks a respectable 6th out of 39 countries on the Expat Explorer league table, based on a score that summarizes expats' overall views on individual countries. Of the expats surveyed in Canada, two-thirds (66%) say the quality of life is better than at home, compared to global average of 53%. In addition, three-quarters (75%) feel they can integrate with the local people and culture, compared to 61% of expats globally.

3) Family matters. For parents, Canada ranks in the top 10 destinations for family life. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of expat parents surveyed agree their children's quality of life has improved since relocating, compared to the global average of 58%.  In addition, nearly seven in 10 (68%) parents say that the safety of their children is better than in their home country and only 2% of respondents believe the opposite is true.

Report highlights for expats globally:

1) For most expats, it's not about the money. A better quality of life and the desire to take on a new challenge are the main reasons for making a move abroad. In both cases, 37% of expats globally say these are the reasons why they moved, compared to just over a quarter (26%) who say they did so to improve their job prospects. In fact, 61% of expats haven't benefited from an immediate salary increase since moving.

2) Expat entrepreneurs blossom in the world's financial hubs. The vast majority of expats living in the world's financial hubs of Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong or London agree they are good places to start a new business (87%, 86%, 85% and 85% respectively). This is much higher than the global average of 56%.

3) Most generous expat packages are found in the Middle East. Besides high salaries and strong economic prospects, expats living in the Middle East can also enjoy unrivalled benefits packages. Health and medical allowances (70% of expats in the region benefit from these), annual trips home and airfare allowances (67%), and accommodation allowances (60%) are all far more likely to be offered as part of expat contracts in the region than in any other part of the world.

Added Miao: "While people's reasons to pursue expat life vary, the research also makes clear that there are some very common challenges faced by expats around the world. Everyday responsibilities such as paying bills and saving for retirement can be challenging as these tasks can involve multiple currencies across different countries. As a result, nearly three-quarters of expats feel their finances have become more complex since moving, which highlights the value of seeking help with this aspect of expat life."

Notes to editors:

1) For the purposes of our survey, an expatriate is someone over 18 years old who is currently living away from their country of origin/home country.

2) Infographic available for download on Canada News Wire (CNW), highlighting key findings of expat life in Canada from HSBC's Expat Explorer: Balancing life abroad report.

3) About HSBC Bank Canada
HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in the country. HSBC helps companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances internationally through three global business lines: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Canada is a priority market for the HSBC Group – one of the world's largest banking and financial services groups with assets of US$2,572bn at 30 June 2015. Linked by advanced technology, HSBC serves customers worldwide through an international network of around 6,100 offices in 72 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

4) About the Expat Explorer survey and league table
The Expat Explorer survey was completed by 21,950 expats from 198 countries through an online questionnaire in March, April and May 2015.  A minimum country sample of 100 expat respondents and at least 30 expat parents is required for that country to be included in the league tables in this report. In this edition of Expat Explorer, 39 countries qualified for those league tables.  Each league table scores countries on a scale of zero to one, with the highest score ranking first and the lowest ranking last. All scores have been rounded to two decimal points.

SOURCE HSBC Bank Canada

Image with caption: "Canadian Infographic for the HSBC Expat Explorer: Balancing Life Abroad, 2015 report (CNW Group/HSBC Bank Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150923_C5275_PHOTO_EN_504255.jpg

Sharon Wilks, Head of Media Relations, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Aurora Bonin, Senior Media Relations Manager, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]