Research reveals 20 of the most popular dream jobs in the world

• Financial services provider Remitly used search data to discover which jobs people dream of doing the most around the world
  
• Becoming a poet was instead the dream career choice in the United Arab Emirates, followed by the dreams of being a scientist, YouTuber or social media influencer
  
• Taking the top spot globally was how to become a pilot, favoured by 25 countries in total, including the UK, USA, Canada and Australia 

World: Remitly has revealed that becoming a professional poet is the ultimate career of choice for those living in the United Arab Emirates.

The concept of a ‘job for life’ has changed dramatically in recent years, with new generations much more likely to seek a career switch and not ‘settle’ for a job role they dislike. Taking this into account, Remitly looked at global search data to find which jobs are proving most popular with the inhabitants of each country. This was achieved by analysing the annual search volume for phrases commonly associated with researching a new career such as ‘how to be a poet’ – the most searched for a job within every country topping their specific rankings.  

Also, read – Survey says job hunting and learning new skills are the top career goals of UAE respondents for 2023

A heavily romanticised vocation choice steeped in history, poetry has long been a part of Arab culture, and is echoed through its position at the summit of the country’s dream job choices.

Beneath that, however, it’s a varied mix of roles, with more modern career choices coming to the fore. Both becoming a YouTuber or a social media influencer are ways of making a living that has only appeared in the last decade, however, take third and fourth in the rankings, above becoming a professional footballer or comedian, highlighting the region’s love of football and talent for comedy.    

The Top 10 Dream Jobs in the United Arab Emirates

Remitly’s research also looked at the most desired jobs in the rest of the world, revealing that taking to the skies and becoming a pilot is the number one dream job globally, having topped the wish lists of 25 countries.

Becoming a pilot, known for its excellent pay, great job prospects and travel opportunities is a clear favourite for everywhere from the United Kingdom and the USA to Cyprus and Montenegro. With almost one million Google searches per year around becoming a pilot, its worldwide popularity is undeniable.

Other career choices favourited by those in the United Arab Emirates also make up the global top ten, with YouTuber and influencer both featuring, in addition to the dream of becoming a programmer. With many believing that code is the true language of the future, it seems huge numbers worldwide are listening and pursuing a career that can be valued at almost any company, as well as presenting a host of opportunities to create something of your own.

The Top 10 Dream Jobs Around the World

The full findings have been compiled into an easily navigable map, with each country’s dream job clearly marked.  

Jago McKenzie, Business Management Director at Remitly commented: “People are getting used to the idea of changing careers at least once in their lifetime as the flexibility to work online and retrain increases. Some of the main reasons people seek a career move are for better work-life balance, higher pay and a more meaningful and fulfilling career. With that in mind, I wasn’t surprised to see so many people around the world showing clear search intent for a change.   

We can see a huge range of different professions featuring prominently, including many that can be done solely online, from anywhere in the world. It’s clear that our desire for travel and exploration has not been dimmed by the past couple of years and has even grown, with new emerging roles such as becoming an influencer, being heavily tied to travel, and capturing regular content wherever you are”.  

To view the map, full data from the study and for further sector-by-sector breakdowns, visit:  https://www.remitly.com/gb/en/landing/dream-jobs-around-the-world

World Dream Jobs Research