The share of U.S.-based employees who left their jobs to work abroad rose from 2.7% at the end of 2021 to 6% by the end of 2025, according to a study by workforce intelligence company Revelio. The data includes U.S.- and foreign-born workers employed by non-U.S. companies as well as those working remotely for American firms.

In 2025, roughly 2,000 to 2,500 U.S.-based workers left the country each month to take jobs abroad, said Ege Aksu, an economist at Revelio. Workers are primarily relocating to Europe, with France a top destination, along with the United Kingdom.

The shift is concentrated among foreign-born workers and the technology sector. As of December 2025, 30% of foreign-born job switchers left the U.S., compared with less than 1% of U.S.-born switchers. Almost 16% of people who switched jobs in IT consulting in December 2025 started a new role outside the country.

Since January 2024, the number of U.S. tech workers moving to Europe has exceeded the number of European tech workers moving to the U.S., a reversal of the previous trend, Revelio found. Remote work opportunities are one of the largest factors drawing U.S.-based employees overseas, according to Revelio. Many American companies have issued return-to-office mandates after the pandemic.

"We are looking at a more and more global labor market, [where] everyone can work from anywhere," Aksu said. "That means more high-quality jobs, more ambitious startups and more serious competition for talent outside the U.S."

"Talent is not infinite," he said. "If another employer abroad offers hybrid work, better hours and a comparable role, that becomes a very real alternative. Better public services, health care, transportation, childcare and stronger work-life balance can make the overall package feel more attractive, even if nominal pay is lower."