Just Released! 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report (Expats)

Hi Everyone, The annual, well-respected and highly quoted Global Relocation Trends Survey Report has just been released, by Brookfield Global Relocation Services.

Here are some excerpts from their press release today:

* 61 percent of global companies surveyed are expecting to transfer more employees in 2011 than in recent years, according to the just-released 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report, published by Brookfield Global Relocation Services.

* The percentage of new hires for international assignments hits an all-time low (8 percent).

* Meanwhile, only 9 percent of international assignees are 20 to 29 years old (tied for the lowest percentage in the report's history).

* While there are some signs of improvement, obtaining spouse/partner employment during international assignments continues to be a struggle. In this report, 60 percent of spouses/partners were employed before but just 12 percent during assignments.

* 18 percent of international assignees were women, compared to a historical average of 16 percent.

* 68 percent of international assignees were married and less than half (47 percent) had children accompanying them, an all-time low.

* Just 74 percent of companies provided cross-cultural preparation - the lowest percentage in the history of this report -While this benefit may be an easy one to cut to reduce costs, it is difficult to ensure the quality of web-based or self-service cross-cultural preparation that is usually offered as an alternative.

* As a consequence, although companies are increasingly focusing on cost reductions and efficiencies in their international relocation operations, amazingly, 92 percent of companies did not formally measure return on investment (ROI). When asked why, 50 percent of respondents indicated that the principal reason for not measuring ROI is that they do not know how to achieve it.

* China, Brazil and India are top emerging destinations; China, India and Russia cited as most challenging destinations for both expats and relocation managers.

* The location of a company's headquarters is a significant factor in that company's optimism: Those headquartered in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were more optimistic than their counterparts with headquarters in North America. For example, 64 percent of EMEA-based companies expected to send more employees on assignment this year, versus 58 percent of companies based in North America.

In all, 118 multinational firms participated in the worldwide survey; combined, these firms manage a worldwide employee population of 5.6 million. Brookfield Global Relocation Services will present key findings of its 2011 survey on Thursday, April 21, during a complimentary webinar that will provide a comparative analysis of the key global mobility issues facing businesses today. All webinar attendees will receive the full Global Relocation Trends Survey report. To register, please click here.

Brookfield Global Relocation Services is a full service provider of corporate and government relocation and assignment management services to more than 250 corporate and government clients. Brookfield Global Relocation Services manages over 50,000 relocations in more than 110 countries throughout the world, and funds over $3.6 billion dollars in relocation expenses annually. Brookfield Global Relocation Services is an operating company of Brookfield Residential Property Services, a leading global provider of real estate and relocation services, technology, and knowledge.

Just Released: Brookfields' Annual Global Relocation Trends Survey (2010)

Hi Everyone, Hot off the press is today's publication of the annual Brookfield Global Relocation Services' (formerly GMAC Global Relocation Services') 2010 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report, which surveyed 120 multinational firms (which manage a combined worldwide employee population of 5.8 million). Key findings:

46% of multinational companies reported a decrease in the number of international assignments last year (the highest rate in the 15-year history of the survey);

Only 17% of international assignees were women (the lowest percentage in nearly a decade);

Only 47% of international assignees had families with children (an all-time low);

A mere 8% of expatriates were new hires (the lowest in the survey’s 15-year history); and

Interestingly, 35% of companies said they provide media-based or Web-based training, as alternatives to face-to-face cross-cultural training (an all-time high).

Are expatriate partners working abroad? Only 9% percent of expatriate partners were employed both before and during assignments (another all-time low, as the historical average is 14%).

What about 'the family'? Still, the most commonly cited reason for candidates turning down assignments were family concerns, partner’s career, and employee career aspirations. Family concerns also topped the list of reasons for early return from an assignment.

What did they find out about expatriate versus non-expatriate employees? Expatriates received promotions more quickly (33%), but expatriates also changed employers more often (28%).

Where are most people being sent? The United States, China, then the United Kingdom.

Where is it the most challenging? Again, China, India and Russia, for expatriates. India (replacing China this year), for corporate international assignment policy and program managers.

Where do assignments fail the most? China, India and then (yes, this is not a typo) the United States.

What happens to repatriates? "Increasingly, expatriates are leaving companies during the first year after repatriation – 38 percent this year compared to 35 percent in 2009 (the 15-year historical average is 22 percent). This is due to the fact that employees were unable to find jobs at these companies upon their return due to the weak economy and some cases were laid-off."

This report is always an excellent compilation of mobility industry trends. If you work in the mobility industry and you do not already receive a full copy of this annual report, you can request one here.

To register for Brookfield's free webinar presenting their findings of the survey on Tuesday 20 April, please click here. Thanks. Andrea.

Would Your Company Like To Participate In The Global Relocation Trends Survey?

Hi Everyone, If you are in the global mobility industry, you would probably already be aware of this very well-respected survey. If your company does not already participate, here is their chance...

"Woodridge, Ill., Oct. 7, 2009 - Brookfield Global Relocation Services today invited companies worldwide to participate in its acclaimed annual "Global Relocation Trends Survey."

Now in its 15th year, the survey has become the definitive study of companies' global employee-relocation practices, mobility policies and trends. The survey's longevity and deep reservoir of data enable Brookfield Global Relocation Services to compare each year's results with historical averages, which help gauge the relative importance of annual variations. Brookfield Global Relocation Services will release the results of the annual survey, along with its analysis, in early 2010. The questionnaire for the upcoming survey is available here. All participants will receive a complimentary copy of the survey results.

...Brookfield Global Relocation Services is a leading, full-service outsourcing partner of end-to-end employee relocation, assignment management and mobility consulting services for multinational organizations worldwide. The company serves corporations throughout the world and manages more than $2 billion in relocation-related transactions."

Expat Jobs: Some Industries Hiring, Some Industries Firing

Hi Everyone, Brookfield Global Relocation Services released today a supplementary report to their widely-recognised 2009 Global Relocation Trends Survey. Here are some extracts from their press release:

"Woodridge, Ill. (Sept. 14, 2009) - The ongoing economic downturn has forced many companies to dramatically scale back the number of employees they are relocating for international assignments, but has left other industries virtually unscathed, a new report exploring international mobility trends from Brookfield Global Relocation Services has found.

In fact, certain industries - among them telecommunications, oil and gas - are experiencing an uptick in their employee relocation activities due to mergers, emerging global markets and other factors, according to a recently released report, International Mobility: The Impact of the Current Economic Climate.

The report queried senior international mobility professionals responsible for international assignment strategy at a number of the world's leading companies. Combined, the mobility managers interviewed from a select group of corporations representing a worldwide employee population of more than 2.2 million employees."

**

"The report's findings pointed to four key trends currently facing multinational companies:

1. A reduction in the volume of assignments due to the recession. This is occurring in industries that have been hit especially hard by the economic downturn, including: automobile manufacturing, information technology service and the financial services sectors.
2. Changes in the volume of assignments. However, these changes are not directly caused by the recession. This trend is impacting the high technology, engineering, retail, financial and information services industries.
3. No impact so far, but companies expect a general tightening soon. These industries include pharmaceutical, food and consumer products manufacturing, and logistics sectors.
4. An increase in the number of employee relocations. This trend is primarily occurring in the telecommunications, oil and gas sectors, and with some professional services firms.

"...companies and industries that are experiencing increased relocation activity are typically involved in:

1. Moving into new international partnership arrangements;
2. A merger or acquisition Developing emerging markets;
3. Creating global tools, processes and programs;
4. Creating a cohesive culture or employer brand; and/or
5. Closing long-term global capability and skills gaps."
   

**

"Brookfield will host a complimentary webinar presentation exploring the findings of this study on Thursday, Sept. 17 (US). Participation in the webinar is free and limited to the first 100 registrants. To register, go to: http://www.brookfieldgrs.com/insights_ideas/grts/2009_GRTS_Economic_Climate_Webinar.asp"

Name Change For GMAC Global Relocation Services

Hi Everyone, If you work in the global mobility industry, you might be interested to learn that GMAC Global Relocation Services (who put out the highly-quoted, annual Global Relocation Trends Survey) has now been re-branded as: Brookfield Global Relocation Services.

The new entity is describing itself as the second largest provider of global relocation services in the world!