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Young people across the North of England are leaving the UK earlier than ever before not for adventure, but for opportunity.
New research from The TEFL Academy reveals a sharp rise in under-35s heading overseas, with a growing number making the move in their early 20s rather than waiting until later in life. And while the trend is national, the pressures behind it may feel especially familiar to young people in northern towns and cities.
By mid-2025, around 130,000–140,000 Britons aged 20–29 had left the UK - a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, fewer people in their 30s are emigrating, signalling a clear generational shift.
Overall, around 195,000 under-35s left the UK in the past year, meaning young adults now account for roughly three-quarters of all British emigrants.
This isn’t a blip - it’s a behavioural change.
For many young people in Northern England, these findings reflect lived experience.
Lower average wages, fewer graduate opportunities in some sectors, and rising rents in cities like Leeds and Manchester are all part of the picture. But increasingly, young northerners aren’t heading south for opportunity - they’re heading overseas.
Case study: Sarah Khan, 24, Leeds → Vietnam
“I graduated in 2023 and was applying for jobs for months,” says Sarah, who studied marketing at university in Leeds. “Most of the roles were either unpaid internships or barely above minimum wage.”
After completing a TEFL qualification, she moved to Ho Chi Minh City. “I’m earning more than I would at home, but more importantly I can actually save money and have a life. In Leeds I felt like I’d be stuck living with my parents for years.”
The research highlights a deeper issue: confidence in the UK’s future.
That uncertainty is echoed across the North.
Case study: Tom Wilson, 27, Newcastle → Australia
“I didn’t leave because I wanted to travel - I left because I couldn’t see a future,” says Tom, who now works in construction in Brisbane. “All my mates back home are grafting, but still can’t afford to move out or get ahead. Here, I’ve got a better wage, better hours, and I’m actually saving.”
More than half of those surveyed (54%) believe staying in the UK could limit their long-term potential, while nearly three-quarters of young adults say they would consider working abroad.
For many, this is no longer about taking a year out - it’s long-term planning.
Case study: Megan Roberts, 23, Sheffield → Spain
“I always thought I’d move to Manchester or London after uni,” says Megan. “But when I looked at rent prices, it just didn’t make sense.”
Now teaching English in Valencia, she says the move feels like a “reset”. “I’ve got a better work-life balance, I’m learning a language, and I don’t feel constantly stressed about money. It’s hard to imagine going back to how things were.”
Teaching English abroad is emerging as one of the most accessible routes out.
Among young people already exploring international work:
Asia is the most popular destination, attracting nearly half of respondents due to lower living costs and strong job demand.
For many northern graduates, it offers something the UK currently struggles to provide: a clear starting point and progression.
Those who have already moved abroad ranked quality of life (4.45/5) and work-life balance (4.03/5) as their main motivations.
This isn’t a generation giving up - it’s one making calculated decisions.
Case study: Jake Thompson, 26, Hull → South Korea
“I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere back home,” Jake says. “I was working full-time but still skint by the end of the month.”
Now teaching in Busan, he describes the move as “the best decision I’ve made”. “I’ve paid off debt, saved money, and actually feel like I’m building something. That just didn’t feel possible in Hull at the time.”
For northern regions already trying to retain young talent, this trend raises difficult questions.
If more young people see opportunity as something found overseas rather than locally, the long-term impact could deepen regional divides.
But there’s another side: a globally experienced generation that may eventually return with new skills, perspectives and ambition.
With millions of Britons already living abroad, success is no longer tied to staying in one place.
For young people in the North, it’s increasingly about mobility, flexibility - and going where opportunity exists.
As Sarah in Vietnam puts it: “I didn’t leave because I wanted to leave Leeds. I left because I wanted a future - and right now, that felt easier to find somewhere else.”
Header Image: Gen Z Shopworker Adam from Bolton heading to Cambodia's Preah Phnom to become an English Teacher (and discover he's actually scared of snakes)
