Global Mobility Survey finds Canadian Employees are less likely to take a full time job overseas

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Two in ten (19%) employees in 24 countries would be 'very likely' to take a full-time job in another country for two to three years with a 10 per cent pay increase, finds a new poll conducted by global research company Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council. Those most likely to say they would relocate internationally were from Mexico (34%), Brazil (32%), and Russia (31%). Just one in ten or (10%) of Canadian employees in the survey say they would take a full time job overseas.

Global employees report they would be most motivated to move abroad for the new job offer by incentives such as a guaranteed option to return to their current role after two years, a 10 per cent pay increase, round trip tickets to visit home, and paid language training if necessary.

According to CERC president and CEO Stephen Cryne, "This study provides employers with valuable strategic intelligence about labour supply in today's globally competitive market for key talent. Employers now have more tools to help them to determine who to recruit, where to recruit, and what supports are needed to get the right people in the right place at the right time.  We look forward to working with IPSOS in gathering further insights about global mobility."

Appetite for International Experience
Employees in 24 countries were asked to consider the opportunity of a full-time job available in another country for anywhere between two or three years with a minimum 10 per cent increase in pay.

When asked to indicate their top reasons for why they would relocate, 38 per cent say they would do so because of the better pay. Other reasons employees give for their interest in moving abroad include: better living conditions, international experience as a good career move, a new adventure and time for a change.

When asked why they would decline the relocation opportunity: 36 per cent said that a 10 per cent pay increase is not enough of an incentive for such a move and, underscoring previous research by CERC, almost one third say they don't want to leave their friends and family behind; two in ten say their partner has a job preventing a transfer, and 13 per cent say they don't want to uproot children from schools and friends.

According to Cryne, "CERC research has consistently shown that family and spousal issues are the reasons most often cited by employees when turning down an opportunity to relocate for work."

There are some incentives that employers could offer workers to encourage a move to that new international job. One third of employees in 24 countries, including Canada at 34 per cent, report that a guarantee to be able to move back to their current role after two years with further relocation assistance would make them "much more likely to take the job." Three in ten say the 10 per cent pay raise would motivate them to take the move, while another three in ten say relocation is much more likely iftheir immediate family members would each get one round trip airfare per person to travel back home or have two round trip tickets.

The Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) is Canada's business authority on talent mobility. As a non-profit organization of employers, CERC represents the interests of leading organizations across Canada that relocate their employees for employment purposes both domestically and internationally.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Global @dvisor poll conducted in 24 countries via the Ipsos Online Panel system between August 5 and August 15, 2011.

Catherine O'Neill
Manager Marketing & Membership Services
Canadian Employee Relocation Council
416.593.9812
[email protected]  

For more information about Ipsos Global @dvisor, please visit www.ipsosglobaladvisor.com