There is a growing number of people calling themselves ‘digital nomads’ who have managed to escape the office, shirts and ties, and nine-to-five – instead working from the poolside in hot countries like Australia, Thailand or Madrid.
It raises the question: should Jersey focus on trying to attract these so-called ‘digital nomads’ to its shores?
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel was recently asked just that, to which he said it could bring both “opportunities and costs”.
So Express, speaking to him directly, asked Deputy Morel to elaborate on the pros and cons of embracing digital nomads coming to the island while working for a company abroad – or vice versa, living abroad and working for a Jersey company…
“It offers opportunities as well as challenges”
Interestingly, Deputy Morel revealed that he himself was once a “remote worker in the past, doing work for companies outside the island”.
He said he understands there are also people doing the opposite, by “working for Jersey companies when based outside the island”.
“It’s a reality in today’s world that offers opportunities as well as challenges,” said Deputy Morel.
The opportunities include being able to “access a much wider customer base” as “anyone in the world can be their customer,” he explained.
But “the challenging bit”, the minister explained, is that there are “obviously businesses that outsource work to remote workers overseas who aren’t in Jersey, so they aren’t paying tax”.
Despite this, Deputy Morel said that there should be a push for “Jersey to remain open to the world”.
“There is a large amount of protectionism in the world at the moment,” he noted, adding that “Jersey shouldn’t jump on that trend” as it isn’t good for the economy in the long run.
“The overall impact varies case by case”
In a similar response to the question of whether Jersey should try to attract ‘digital nomads’ to the island, Treasury Minister Elaine Millar said: “It’s not possible to give a definitive answer, as the impact depends heavily on individual circumstances.”
She explained: “In broad terms, islanders working remotely for overseas companies can bring benefits to Jersey by creating additional employment opportunities, diversifying skills, and contributing to tax revenue and on-island spending.
“However, if those jobs were instead provided by local businesses, there could be wider economic gains through supply-chain activity and investment in local skills.
“Conversely, overseas workers employed by Jersey-based companies can help ease labour and skills shortages, support innovation, and reduce business costs, which in turn can help keep prices lower for consumers.
“They also generate less demand for housing and public services than on-island workers. The overall impact – whether the benefits outweigh the costs – varies case by case.”
“I could be overlooking the Thames in the morning, and watching the sunset over St Ouen that same evening”
Amongst those digital nomads relocating to Jersey is 27-year-old Noa Chapman.
She told Express that, “like a lot of people”, she has been “working between the office and home since the pandemic”, but has never worked fully remotely before.
Now, Noa is planning on moving to the island while freelancing for a company based in the UK.
“The big draw of working remotely in Jersey for me is the quality of life,” she explained.
“It means I can stay connected and continue to build my career within my area of expertise, but also make the most of all the island has to offer.”
She added: “With such great connections to London, it also means I’m not completely severing all ties.
“I could be overlooking the Thames in the morning, and watching the sunset over St Ouen that same evening.”
While “the slower pace of life and proximity to nature” is an appeal for Noa, she admitted there are some drawbacks.
“I think the main trade-off will be losing that sense of not being part of a team when you’re not physically seeing your colleagues every day,” she said.
“I’d expect to work from home mostly, but also occasionally make use of the many coworking spaces and cafés on offer, whilst making trips back to London from time to time too.”
“I spend a quarter of what I would in Jersey”
While the island has a lot to offer, some people feel the urge to fly the nest and explore.
When he was just 18 years old and working in an office job, James Logue decided he wanted to leave his suit and tie behind and travel the world.
The now 30-year-old has since travelled to many countries, including Thailand, Spain and Costa Rica.
He initially freelanced in the marketing sector, but now runs his own agency, Clarity Digital, remotely whilst paying his taxes in Jersey.
James explained that, although he likes the island, he has found it cheaper to live in other places, such as Thailand.
The digital nomad said he could “spend a quarter of what you’d spend in Jersey” in the Asian country because “rent in Thailand is probably a quarter of a flat in Jersey” and “food is a tenth or twentieth”.
James added: “I came back to Jersey this Christmas and ordered a sandwich – it was £15. I thought, ‘this has got to be the world’s greatest sandwich’, but it wasn’t.”
Another motivation for his travels is being able to spend more time in the sunshine.
It also “opens your eyes to new perspectives”, he added, urging all young people with the urge to travel and the financial means to do so to take the leap and do it.
