According to a new poll conducted by the global research company Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, almost two in ten (18%) employees in 20 countries say they would be ‘very likely’ to temporarily relocate for up to two years and take a full-time job in another country with a 10% pay increase. By comparison, in 2012, one quarter (25%) of employees said they would be ‘very likely’ to take a full-time job in another country (a decline of 7%).

Stephen Cryne, President and CEO of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) said, “At a time when many regions of the world are moving to knowledge-based economies, and living standards improve, it is not surprising to see a measurable decline in the number of employees willing to relocate for employment since 2012.”

The global survey was organised by CERC and includes a comprehensive survey of 10,000 employees in 20 countries from all parts of the world. It was sponsored by BDO Global, Council for Global Immigration, Crown World Mobility, Dwellworks LLC, EuRA, Randstad Holding NV, TheMIGroup, and Weichert Workforce Mobility.

Understanding why

Canadians specifically were asked to share their views on the motivations behind their likelihood to move abroad for work in the form of two open-ended questions. Those who indicated they are ‘likely’ to move were asked to reflect on what barriers would prevent them from taking a foreign assignment. The number one factor cited by Canadians is family/friends (40%), followed at a great distance by location (10%), money/financial stability/salary (9%), and job security (8%).

Those who indicated they are ‘unlikely’ to move were asked to describe what incentives might make them consider the move after all. Almost three in ten (27%) said a pay increase would make them consider relocation. Only six percent (6%) indicated the country they are relocating to would make them consider it. Over four in ten (43%) said nothing would make them consider relocation.

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