A survey of 173 South Africans with international work experience reveals that, while global opportunities are abundant, the pull of home remains irresistible.
Image: Pexels/LekePOV
For many South Africans, the great trek abroad is no longer a one-way ticket.
New research released as part of the Reverse Emigration Among South Africans report by The TEFL Academy reveals a growing trend of "circular migration", where young professionals head overseas to gain skills and savings before eventually following their hearts back to Mzansi.
A survey of 173 South Africans with international work experience shows that while the world offers great opportunities, the pull of home remains irresistible.
While a higher salary is great, it isn’t the main reason people are booking flights back home. The motivations are deeply personal:
77.46% say spending time with family and lifelong friends is what they miss most.
66.9% crave South Africa’s unique humour, warmth and social culture.
55.63% miss the outdoor lifestyle and the unbeatable climate.
50% return for that unmistakable sense of cultural belonging.
“There is nothing quite like landing at the airport and hearing our accents again. You don’t realise how deeply home lives in you until you’ve been away. South Africa has so much soul... it simply cannot be replicated anywhere else," shared one respondent.
Living abroad isn't just about the travel photos; it’s a major career boost.
South Africans returning home are bringing a global perspective that they value at 4.19/5. Even better, the personal growth, becoming more confident and adaptable, scored a massive 4.41/5.
How does life look once the suitcases are unpacked?
Overall life satisfaction in South Africa scored 3.41/5.
Mental and emotional well-being actually improved for many after reconnecting with their roots (3.62/5).
53.05% of those surveyed have already made the move back home.
“Being present for milestones, Sunday braais and ordinary Tuesday evenings with people who’ve known you since childhood, those moments can’t translate across time zones," the respondent added.
The numbers back up the feeling. In 2022 alone, nearly 28,000 South Africans returned home. Recruitment firms are also seeing a 70% increase in enquiries from South Africans in the UK, Australia and Canada looking to come back.
Ultimately, the report suggests that moving away isn't necessarily a goodbye; it’s a chapter that makes the homecoming even more valuable.
Whether it's for the Sunday braais or the familiar humour, South Africans are proving that no matter how far you go, home always has the final word.
For many South Africans, time abroad is not the end of their story, but a chapter that ultimately strengthens the one they continue to write at home.
Image: Supplied