Senior management executives are more willing to relocate internationally for new jobs than their colleagues at lower levels of responsibility, according to findings of the 2012 Financial Times global impact study of recruitment trends.

Globally, 56% of all respondents were willing to relocate internationally, compared to 58% of senior management respondents and 55% below senior management level, the survey found.

Released this week, the study results also reveal that manufacturing executives around the world are more likely to relocate domestically than those in finance, business services or the public sector. 

Overall, the survey found European and Asia-Pacific professionals more willing to relocate than their peers in the UK and US. For instance, in Europe, 77% of senior business executives were willing to move internationally for new jobs and 53% domestically. In comparison, only 38% of UK respondents were willing to move internationally and a marginally higher 39% were willing to make a domestic move. In the US, 53% were willing to move internationally and 55% were open to making a move within the US.

Nearly 4,500 respondents took part in the study conducted from May through July this year.