Atlas Van Lines in the USA has released its 57th annual Corporate Relocation Survey that looks at corporate relocation policies, practices, and subsequent trends.
The survey includes results collected from 575 companies across various industries. It captures the driving forces behind employees’ relocation decisions and workforce mobility, providing valuable insights for transportation leaders and stakeholders. The survey shows that 70% of all companies reported an increase in the overall number of employees relocated in 2023, a 2-point increase from 2022.
Key statistics for movers
- 75% of corporations said that they would instruct (or create policy) their lump-sum assignees to use a sole HHG provider if they currently have a pricing agreement in place and this same agreement were extended to lump-sum customers.
- Offering HHG shipping as a relocation benefit was more common in 2023 compared with 2022. 48% of large companies reported offering the service as part of their fixed relocation benefits package.
- 68% of companies pay directly for carrier transportation expenses and only 28% reimburse the employee.
Employee needs and preferences
Overall, the volume of relocations did not change significantly in 2023 compared with 2022, suggesting that relocation trends have begun to stabilise from historic lows due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Relocations appear to be becoming more common, increasing overall from 2022-2023.
Safety and family drove declined relocations in 2023, with 35% of companies reporting employees declined relocation due to safety concerns, 34% due to family issues/ties, and 30% due to a lack of spousal/partner assistance. Companies relocating employees internationally were more likely to report that safety concerns resulted in declined relocations at 44%.
Domestically, family ties and the needs of the trailing spouse/partner reflect the financial pressures of US households due to the state of the economy and inflation—despite general improvement overall, Consumer Price Indexes and the cost of living reflect that employees have not yet felt the impact of decreasing inflation.
These needs set the stage for companies to consider nonstandard relocation assistance policies ...
Photo: Atlas Van Lines has released its 57th annual Corporate Relocation Survey.