In 2010, a UK medical specialist moving to South Korea would typically see their income fall (in terms of purchasing power) by around 5%, according to OECD data. As of 2020, by contrast, they can expect a pay rise of 25%.
Similarly, a nurse moving to Iceland would previously have taken a 13% pay cut, but is now likely to see a 43% bump to their salary.
The same dynamic is likely to play into foreign healthcare workers’ decisions about relocating to the UK. In 2010, a nurse coming to the UK from Slovenia could expect a 37% boost to their living standards. As of 2020, they would earn 4% more by staying put.