Brookfield Global Relocation Services report International Mobility: Impact of the current economic climate ranks in fifth place in Expatica HR’s Top 5 Industry Survey Awards 2008/ 2009 scoring highly for offering novel or unique cutting edge findings and well-researched and presented data.

One of the major findings of the research is that, although the current economic conditions represent powerful forces, it would be wrong to assume that they will have an equal effect on IM programmes.  Many companies are taking a mature approach to changes in the economic environment having learned in the past that ill-considered and short-term focused reactions can be damaging to strategic plans and initiatives.

The research shows that the IM function could currently be facing one of four possible situations in terms of assignment volume.  The report summarised the four situations and sectors affected as follows:

A reduction in the volume of assignments due to the recession for automobile manufacturing, IT services, and financial services sector.

Assignment volume also has changed although not directly due to the recession, particularly in high technology, engineering, retail, financial, logistics and information services organisations.

No impact was seen so far in the pharmaceutical, food and consumer products manufacturing and logistics sectors although a general tightening can be expected soon.

There was an increase in the volume of assignments, regardless of the recession in telecommunications, oil and gas sectors and in some professional services firms.

Continued and sustained rationalization within organisations is creating some complex future challenges for IM functions and has opened up new strategic debates between IM function and senior management. For those currently facing high levels of rationalisation and change, the IM function has to understand how the following factors will impact the ability of companies to sustain the cost of expatriate assignments:

• how reductions in overall costs;
• negotiations over how operations will be adjusted;
• complex national and pan-national deals over pay levels, work time adjustments and unemployment rights;
• uncertainties about the ability of budget funding to cross borders.

Winners of the Expatica HR 2008/2009 Top 5 Industry Survey Awards

1. ORC Worldwide Flash Survey: Cost Savings Initiatives 2009
2. ORC Worldwide: 2008 Worldwide Survey of International Assignment Policies and Practices
3. ORC Worldwide: 2008 Dual Careers and International Assignments Survey
4. Manpower Global Employment Outlook Survey
5. Brookfield Global Relocation Services: International Mobility: Impact of the Current Economic Climate

 Click here for more information on the Expatica 2008/ 2009 Top 5 Industry Awards.

Inviting submissions for the 2009/ 2010 Expatica Top 5 Industry Survey Awards!