More than 60% of youth have considered moving abroad: Survey

SINGAPORE — Attaining financial stability, strong family relationships and work-life balance are the top three aspirations of youths in Singapore, according to a survey released today (Jan 15).

Organised by students in Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) Diploma in Media and Communication (DMC), the Mass Media Research survey was conducted on 825 participants aged between 15 and 35 last year, tackling social issues and media trends.

Past survey topics have included cyber-bullying, social media and citizen journalism.

Contrary to popular belief that youth today are mainly concerned with material wealth, the top three concerns of those surveyed were instead happiness, peace of mind and friendship.

The survey also found that almost all the of participants put financial stability, strong family relationships and work-life balance as their top three aspirations in life.

The survey also revealed two distinct groups — one firmly rooted in Singapore, the other keen to pursue their dreams overseas.

61.5 per cent of participants said they have considered leaving Singapore to achieve their dreams, or have done so previously.

According to the survey, this group tended to value the freedom to make their own decisions, and to pursue a passion not directly related to their job or studies. This group also spent more time on social media, as well as substantially more time online.

In contrast, those who said they preferred to remain in Singapore correlated with a greater aspiration to get married and start a family. They also tended to prefer traditional media over social media and the Internet.

The organisers of the survey were not surprised by the findings. “Young Singaporeans today do not see themselves bound by geography. The world is a global village and we have opportunities out there for education, leisure and work,” said Ms Sophia Tan, a second year student from DMC.

Other findings include those being surveyed naming determination, passion and self-discipline as the most important qualities that can help one to realise their dreams.

The survey also found that youths want Singapore, in five years’ time, to be an affordable place to live in, a society that defines success beyond academic and material achievements, and a society that emphasises on work-life balance.