What are the most attractive cities for expatriate talent?

To answer this question, look to the annual "2019 Quality of Living" report which is now out from Mercer. Just released, this report provides companies with an understanding of the cities around the world that are offering the most (and least) attractive environments for which to do business.

For the 10th year running, Vienna has topped the list. Here is a look at the top 10 cities for expatriate quality of living:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Vancouver, Canada
4. Munich, Germany
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. Geneva, Switzerland
10. Basel, Switzerland

As you look at the list of the top 10, you can see that Vancouver is the only city in North America, that there were no cities from Africa, the Middle East, South America or across Latin America, that one was from Oceania, none throughout the rest of Asia Pacific and the European cities in Germany and Switzerland dominated the top 10, taking 60%!

There are some other lists out there to consider and compare to...for example, HSBC's Expat Explorer Survey which provides the ranking in country format and includes some different locations:

1. Singapore
2. New Zealand
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. Bahrain
6. Australia
7. Sweden
8. Switzerland
9. Taiwan
10. UAE

If you are selecting the right expats, that are excited for the experience, no matter the location, they might say something like, “Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.”— Judith Thurman