- Cigna 360 Global Well-Being Survey of 11,922 people worldwide reveals expat 
stress has reached an all-time high, with almost all respondents feeling 
symptoms of burnout
- Lifestyle is now more important than finances for those planning to move 
overseas, a quarter plan to move to access better healthcare
- Top destination for existing expats to relocate to is Canada, with Australia 
and the U.S. tied second



The vast majority of expats are burned out, stressed and reevaluating life and 
work priorities for more flexibility or to be closer to family and friends, 
according to a report based on the eighth edition of the Cigna 360 Well-Being 
Survey.

The report released today, Burned Out Overseas – The State of Expat Life 2022 
(https://www.cignaglobal.com/360-global-well-being/expat-life-2022), found 90% 
of expats are stressed and 98% have experienced symptoms of burnout - likely 
driven by feeling unable to switch off from work. Expats are experiencing an 
overwhelming sense of isolation, with 87% reporting feeling helpless, trapped 
or defeated and 86% feeling detached or alone. Meanwhile, more than a third 
(38%) are also concerned or uncertain about their financial situation. 
Contributing to these findings is a mix of lifestyle, opportunity and work 
culture factors. The study found 73% of current expats, and 75% of those who 
plan to move overseas in the next two years, have spent more time reevaluating 
their life priorities since the pandemic. Lifestyle now replaces finances as 
the top priority for those planning to move overseas.

Jason Sadler, President, Cigna International Markets, said employers face a 
real challenge in meeting this lifestyle shift and rethinking the expat value 
proposition. "Employers may face huge challenges in filling overseas 
assignments in the future. The exciting, rewarding, globally mobile lifestyle 
that used to sum-up the 'expat dream' has changed and more people are now 
prioritizing lifestyle, family and friends when planning moves."

Healthcare has become a priority for all groups, with 23% of existing expats 
considering moving to gain access to better healthcare. Work life balance is 
also critical, with more than a quarter of aspiring expats saying flexible 
hours are critical and 16% saying they want the ability to work from any 
location in the world.

"From now on, it's likely that organizations will need to reevaluate how they 
structure expat assignments. Personal and family needs are now at the forefront 
of decision-making, and this may impact the benefits expats prioritize when 
selecting roles," added Sadler.

The survey also found Canada is the top destination for existing expats to move 
to, with 11% wanting to relocate there. Australia and the U.S. tied in second 
place. The significant majority of those living in Europe and Australia are 
confident they will remain living overseas, but the same cannot be said for 
Asia, with only 5% of those in India and 16% of those in Mainland China 
confident they will stay.

Expat age profiles are also changing, with senior employees now more likely to 
want to return or remain in their home countries while younger staff seek out 
overseas moves. Only 13% of those over the age of 50 say they want to move 
overseas, compared to 37% of those aged 18 to 24, and 34% of those aged 25 to 
34.

Looking ahead, Dr. Stella George, Chief Medical Officer, Cigna International 
Markets, said the expat age demographic is expected to change.

"The past couple of years during the pandemic have been especially challenging 
for existing and long-term expats," said Dr. George. "So, while many will be 
moving closer to home, many ambitious younger professionals will also start 
taking advantage of the opportunities that overseas postings offer, such as 
quick promotion, flexible working and other incentives. These benefits are 
especially attractive to people earlier in their careers."

About the Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey

The eight edition of the Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey was conducted by Cigna 
International Markets, in partnership with Kantar, a leading data, insights, 
and consulting company. More than 11,900 people from Australia, Belgium, 
Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, 
Switzerland, The Netherlands, UAE, UK and USA were surveyed for the research in 
May this year. It examined five key components – family, financial, physical, 
social, and work – to uncover the latest trends and challenges for the health 
and well-being of expats.

Online sampling used respondents recruited from panels that undergo rigorous 
quality control and the panel composition is representative of the adult 
population in each of the surveyed markets.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to 
improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna 
delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care 
through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that 
advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively 
by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, Evernorth companies 
or their affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such 
products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as 
medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, 
and other related products. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 
countries and jurisdictions and has more than 175 million customer 
relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links 
to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com

Source: Cigna