Wed, 23 May 2012

Lack of technical and management skills were the main drivers for relocating employees around the world in 2011, as global companies significantly increased the movement of staff around the world, according to a new survey.

The ‘Global Relocation Trends Survey’ of 123 multinationals by Brookfield Global Relocation Services found that despite economic weakness in many parts of the world, nearly two-thirds (64%) of global companies reported sending more employees overseas in 2011.

And companies were equally bullish about 2012, with 63% saying they expect this trend to continue.

The global companies, with a combined workforce of 6.9m, rated having the right talent as the second most important factor for success in the global marketplace.

Scott Sullivan, executive vice president of Brookfield Global Relocation Services, says: “The significant increase in actual assignments in 2011 and the optimism for continued growth for 2012 suggest that corporations have adjusted to these unstable environmental conditions and are focused again on the future and growing their businesses internationally.”

Other findings:

• International assignee populations jumped by nearly 50% compared with 2010
• 46% were assignments outside the headquarter company
• the US (20%) and China (14%) were the top destinations for international assignments, followed by the UK 10%
• a total of 63 countries were listed as emerging  destinations for international assignments, including Brazil, Russia, and India.