Nearly half of companies expect to increase the number of staff sent to growth markets such as China or Africa over the next year on global mobility assignments.

This is according to a survey from professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY), which says both long-term and short-term assignments are on the rise, with the overall number set to nearly double over the next three years.

Stephanie Phizackerley, human capital partner at EY, says: “Demand for international staff means the global mobility function has a potentially pivotal role in supporting and driving company growth.”

However, the report also found that 68% of companies surveyed do not have a control framework to manage payroll, tax and social security risks for those on assignments, and 45% say their global mobility functions are understaffed – up from 41% since last year.

On returning home, 26% of assignees from African firms leave their company within two years, compared with just 10% in the Asia-Pacific and South American regions, while at North American and European firms that figure is 12% and 11% respectively.

• A previous study on the subject of global relocations, as reported by Recruiter.co.uk, found such assignments were increasing in volume, but with the average length of assignments decreasing.