Gen Y most likely age group to head overseas

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Created on Wednesday, 08 January 2014 15:12

Written by Editorial staff

There are a wide range of characteristics attributed to Gen Y (people born between 1976 and 1990). They are often labelled flighty, narcissistic, technology-obsessed and even lazy by the media.

It's not all bad, however. Many also credit Gen Y with being fantastic team players, more than willing to go that extra mile if they feel included in decision-making processes and open to new experiences, such as travel.

While the majority of these characteristics are generalisations that might be confirmed in one article and disputed in another, the final attribute - that Gen Y, overall, are open to new experiences - has some grounds.

Gen Y is the likeliest group of people to head overseas on immigration visas in search of new experiences. That's according to a survey recently conducted by Roy Morgan Research, the largest independent research company in Australia.

Roy Morgan Research asked people from Gen Z (1991 and 2005), Gen Y, Gen X (1961 and 1975), the Baby Boomers (1946 to 1960) and Pre-Boomers (people born before 1946) about their movements overseas during the past 12 months.

Overall, 23 per cent of Australians took to the skies between December 2012 to November 2013. Out of the members of Gen Y who contributed to the survey, 27 per cent admitted they had travelled to another country or countries at least once that year. This compares favourably with the 18 per cent of Gen Y who said the same in 2006.

The Baby Boomers came in second place, with 26 per cent stating they had travelled overseas at least once in the year to November 2013. This represents an 8 per cent increase on the number recorded in 2006.

Gen Z and the Pre-Boomers are the least likely groups to travel overseas, according to Roy Morgan Research's findings. Just 17 per cent of the former group said they had gone overseas in the past 12 months (up from 11 per cent in 2006) and 18 per cent of the latter group admitted the same (up from 15 per cent in 2006).

Jane Ianniello, International Director of Tourism, Travel and Leisure at Roy Morgan Research, said that "despite being less well off than their Baby Boomer parents", people in Gen Y are just as keen to jet off overseas, "often making sacrifices to realise their travel dreams".

Are you a member of Gen Y looking to travel to Australia? Then get in touch with a migration agent today - we can help you figure out what visa will best suit your circumstances.