Worker Relocation Decisions: A Complex Mix of Motivations and Opportunities

Strategic Insights -

In a tight labor market, attracting and retaining talent has become a top priority for global employers. A new report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) sheds light on what drives worker relocation decisions. While competitive pay remains a key factor, relocation decisions are shaped by a wider set of motivations, including family responsibilities, job satisfaction, and perceived access to opportunity. The report, Access to Well-Paying Jobs and Worker Mobility in an Interconnected World of Work, provides valuable insights for talent mobility leaders.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nine out of 10 workers consider fair pay and strong benefits as very important when evaluating job opportunities.
  • 80% of workers globally believe they can find well-paying jobs in their home countries, but this optimism varies widely by country, from just half of respondents in Japan to nearly all respondents in China.
  • 30% of workers rely on businesses outside their home country for access to well-paying jobs, with this figure climbing to 37% among independent workers.
  • Temporary workers are less likely to believe well-paying jobs are accessible within their own communities, with just 59% holding this belief.
  • Only 43% of workers are "very" or "extremely" satisfied with their current pay and benefits, with these workers also being the least likely to be looking elsewhere.
  • 49% of dissatisfied workers are actively job hunting, while 25% of somewhat satisfied workers are seeking new opportunities.

Statistics:

  • 9 out of 10 workers consider fair pay and strong benefits as very important when evaluating job opportunities.
  • 80% of workers globally believe they can find well-paying jobs in their home countries.
  • 30% of workers rely on businesses outside their home country for access to well-paying jobs.
  • 37% of independent workers rely on businesses outside their home country for access to well-paying jobs.
  • 59% of temporary workers believe well-paying jobs are accessible within their own communities.
  • 43% of workers are "very" or "extremely" satisfied with their current pay and benefits.
  • 49% of dissatisfied workers are actively job hunting.
  • 25% of somewhat satisfied workers are seeking new opportunities.

Sources:

  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Access to Well-Paying Jobs and Worker Mobility in an Interconnected World of Work.
  • WERC, Arlington, Va., without date.