Over half of young people have considered leaving the UK amid housing and financial worries, poll finds

A majority of Britain’s young adults have at least considered leaving the UK, a recent poll by the Adam Smith Institute has revealed.

Across the political spectrum, young people have cited unaffordable housing, financial insecurity, and declining faith in future opportunities as key reasons for contemplating emigration.

Those aged 18-30 said they feel “overtaxed, underhoused and undervalued,” with stagnant wages, housing struggles, and personal finances driving their concerns.

As part of the Institute’s ‘Anxious Generation’ series, the poll found that over one in four young people have seriously considered or are actively planning to leave the country, while a further 30% have briefly considered it. Only 35% of young people said they had never thought about moving abroad.

If our political class continues to ignore these warning signs, we risk exporting our talent at precisely the moment when it is most needed

Emma Schubart, Data & Insights Manager at the Adam Smith Institute

Affordable housing emerged as the top worry for young people. Around 65% believe securing a home will get harder in the next five years, with 38% predicting it will become “much more difficult”. Concerns about housing cut across political lines, with 63% of young Conservative voters, 65% of Labour voters, and 68% of Reform UK voters saying access to housing would worsen.

Emma Schubart, Data & Insights Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, warned: “If our political class continues to ignore these warning signs, we risk exporting our talent at precisely the moment when it is most needed.” She added that addressing these concerns is not only a matter of fairness but is “essential to securing Britain’s long-term economic and social future”.

This sentiment is not new. A December 2024 survey by the British Council found that nearly 75% of young people would consider living and working abroad, with popular destinations including Australia, the USA, Canada, and Italy. Two-thirds of respondents said their standard of living is worse than that of their parents, and more than half cited low wages as the key challenge.

Research also shows that young people are prioritising financial security and job prospects over culture war issues or climate debates. A UK Youth Poll 2025 found that 37% of young adults cited financial worries as their top source of anxiety, followed by work pressures (23%) and job insecurity or unemployment (20%).

Everything starts at the top and […] the people at the bottom are the ones who are suffering the most

Cameron McCleary, 25-year-old British émigré

First-hand accounts illustrate the trend reflected in these figures.

Ray Amjad, a 24-year-old Cambridge graduate, moved to Japan after concluding that the UK offered limited career prospects, citing poor public services, crime, overpriced accommodation, and “miserable” weather as reasons for his move.

Similarly, Scottish graduate Kate Barr shared her decision to leave the UK in a viral video titled “THE UK IS DYING AND I NEED TO VENT.” She warned that staying in Britain could limit ambition and career opportunities, adding: “You only get one shot at life and I’m not spending it working for barely any money helping other people become millionaires.”

Cameron McCleary, 25, shared her sentiment. Previously working 40-60 hours a week as a firefighter in Birmingham, he booked a one-way flight to Thailand and eventually settled in Cyprus, stating: “Everything starts at the top and […] the people at the bottom are the ones who are suffering the most.”