US still seen as best place to work by financial professionals

American financial professionals are not afraid to look overseas for job opportunities, according to a recent eFinancialCareers poll. The survey suggests a significant number believe promising career paths lead to many of the world’s emerging markets, specifically in Asia and the BRIC economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Thirty per cent of US-based financial services professionals said they still believed the US offered the brightest future, more than double any other financial market.

Other countries that view the US as the best employment market include China, India, Brazil, Hong Kong and Singapore. Only three of the top 10 markets would be considered traditional financial markets.

The BRIC economies received nearly three times as many votes (35%) as the UK and continental Europe combined (12%) indicating that professionals see their best future in the fast growing emerging markets rather than the traditional European financial centres. As for oil-rich Gulf States, only 5% were willing to stake their future in the region.

eFinancial Careers concludes that despite the turbulent financial markets, the US remains twice as popular as any other single financial market. However, an increasing number of financial services professionals recognise their career’s potential may be realised in markets and places they would not have considered 10 years ago.

Jobs opportunities by market (number of jobs posted by region on September 3, 2008)
US	2,178
UK	3,504
Continental Europe and Middle East	2,277
Asia Pacific	2,300

Top sector advancers and decliners (year-on-year %change in jobs posted by sector in US) *
Hedge funds	+15%
Research	+10%
Operations	+8%
Derviatives	-36%
Debt/fixed income	-34%
Trading	-25%

* jobs may be posted in up to three sectors.