After 3 Years of Contraction, International Assignment Activity Comes Roaring Back, According to Highly Anticipated Trends Survey from Brookfield Global Relocation Services

64 percent of Global Companies Report Sending More Employees on Overseas Assignments in 2011

• 63 percent of global companies expect this upward trend to continue in 2012, signaling a return to pre-recession activity levels.
• Healthcare, Pharmaceutical and Energy industries lead resurgence, Financial Services industry hits new lows.
• Greater growth reported from companies headquartered in the Americas than those in Europe.

In spite of global economic malaise, multinational companies increase pace of international assignments, according to the just-released 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey report, published by Brookfield Global Relocation Services .

In the 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey report, companies reporting growth in international assignee populations jumped nearly 50 percent from 2011 and well beyond what has been reported in Brookfield Global Relocation Services’ last three annual trends reports. This year’s results indicate a return to activity levels not seen since 2007 suggesting that, regardless of regional economic woes, multinational corporations are mobilizing workers to fill skills gaps and develop talent, especially in emerging and developing markets.

Notably, assignment activity outside the headquarter country location continued to rise hitting 46 percent, an all time high, and another sign that companies are diversifying their sources for talent and looking farther afield for new market opportunities. Many new locations were cited as top destinations for international assignments including Malaysia, Spain, Indonesia, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Colombia.

“In last year’s survey, we were encouraged by the optimism companies showed in predicting a return to positive international assignment growth; but with the prolonged weakness in the US economy and the escalating sovereign debt crisis in some European countries, we were doubtful of that forecast coming true, but it has,” said Scott Sullivan, executive vice president of Brookfield Global Relocation Services, “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.”

Research for this report was compiled from 123 companies around the world; combined, these firms manage a worldwide employee population of 6.9 million. Brookfield Global Relocation Services will present key findings of its 17 ^th annual survey on Thursday, June 28, 2012 , during a complimentary webinar that will provide a comparative analysis of the important global mobility issues facing businesses today. All webinar attendees will receive a full copy of the 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey report. To register, go to: http://knowledge.brookfieldgrs.com/content/insights_ideas-2012_grts-webinar

Since its inception, the annual Global Relocation Trends Survey has been regarded as the definitive study of companies’ employee-relocation practices, policies and projections. As it does each year, the newly released survey paints a comprehensive picture of evolving trends and emerging issues facing companies of all sizes that rely on an internationally mobile workforce.

“The survey consists of 126 questions and provides the most comprehensive data set and trend analytics available,” comments Sullivan. “This information allows us to compare, contrast and provide a baseline that’s unique to the relocation industry.”

The Right Fit

Finding the right talent topped cost as the most common assignment management challenge faced by companies in 2011 and was cited as the second most important factor for success in the global marketplace. Even with the high general unemployment rates in many countries, the lack of technical and management skills remain the top reasons for relocating employees. Additionally, employees with international work experience are more highly valued.

• 21 percent of all employees had previous international assignee experience (significantly higher than 12 percent in the 2011 report).
• The 4 percent increase in the 20-29 year-old assignee demographic points to increased investment in developmental assignments for young, high potential employees.
• Building international management expertise was the third most important assignment objective reported.
• 40 percent of the respondents felt that employees with international work experience get promoted faster than employees without it.

The Right Formula

This year’s survey also shed light on the ongoing struggle justifying costs and how to quantify return on investment:

• While there is a greater emphasis on measurements, none of the respondents rated their companies’ return on investment (ROI) as excellent; 22 percent rated their companies’ international assignment ROI as very good; 22 percent as good; 45 percent as fair; and 11 percent as poor. These are the lowest ROI ratings in the history of this report.
• 51 percent of companies required a cost-benefit analysis to justify an assignment, a 10 percent increase over the 2011 report.
• 43 percent of respondents compared estimated with actual costs, 18 percent higher than in the 2011 report.

The United States and China held their positions as the top destinations for international assignments, with 20 percent of respondents listing the United States and 14 percent listing China as the top destination. Historically the United States, China and the United Kingdom, when combined as the top three destinations, represented 77 percent of the destinations. Now, however, when combined, they represent only 44 percent of the respondents’ top destinations, indicating that companies are sending international assignees to a more diverse group of countries than ever before.

A total of 63 countries were listed by this year’s respondents as emerging destinations for them, more than three times the number in any other year. As expected, Brazil, Russia, India and China are among the top emerging locations in this year’s report. While most of these countries can no longer be considered strictly emerging for businesses, most are still considered emerging as locations for international assignments.

“As businesses continue to expand into more countries, or even more remote locations in relatively more established countries, second and third tier cities in China for example, the future of international assignment success will depend on the combination of individually tailored support and a more adaptable, flexible and qualified assignee,” remarked Sullivan.

About the Global Relocation Trends Survey Report

The 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey report is the 17th report issued by Brookfield Global Relocation Services. Released annually, the report is considered one of the most reliable and respected sources of global mobility data and trends information. The report elicits details pertaining to international assignee population growth, international assignee demographics, international assignee sources and destinations, assignment types, polices and benefits, global business strategy, cultural and family issues, international assignee selection and assessment, assignment evaluation and completion, repatriation and attrition, attrition and assignment failure, cost estimating, tracking, comparisons, ROI and outsourcing. The longevity of this survey enables the company to compare each year’s results with historical averages, which help gauge the relative importance of annual variations.

For additional information and to receive the 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey report, register for the company’s complimentary 2012 Key Findings webinar at: http://knowledge.brookfieldgrs.com/content/insights_ideas-2012_grts-webinar

About Brookfield Global Relocation Services

Brookfield Global Relocation Services is a full service provider of corporate and government relocation and assignment management services to more than 700 corporate and government clients. Brookfield Global Relocation Services manages over 85,000 relocations throughout the world 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.

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Contact:

Brookfield Global Relocation Services
Michael Gorski, 630.972.2270
mike.gorski@brookfieldgrs.com