Atlas Van Lines recently launched its 58th annual Corporate Relocation Survey, providing a comprehensive look at trends in corporate relocation policies and practices.
Atlas Van Lines recently launched its 58th annual Corporate Relocation Survey, the first and longest-running study providing a comprehensive look at trends in corporate relocation policies and practices. The 2025 study reflects overall increases in relocation volumes and budgets in 2024, signalling a strategic emphasis on talent mobility.
“It is more important than ever for businesses to understand and adapt to the evolving needs of their employees,” said Jack Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group. “Atlas’ Corporate Relocation Survey offers a glimpse into employee motivations and how companies are responding. In this year’s report, we see a significant shift away from one-size-fits-all relocation policies towards innovative, customisable approaches, creating opportunities for businesses and employees alike.”
The top external factors impacting relocation in 2024 include economic conditions, lack of qualified people locally, real estate market/available housing, and increases in mortgage rates. Amid the tightest labour markets in advanced economies in two decades, the number of companies that cited a lack of a qualified talent pool as a factor that impacted relocation increased by two points from 2023 to 29% in 2024.
To combat that shortage, 30% of companies said they were considering moving their offices to another city, a 6% increase from 2023. Corporations are eyeing business-friendly environments that offer lower tax rates and operating costs, as well as areas where workers choose to live, which typically have a lower cost of living and better quality of life. Additionally, the number of in-person workers doubled from 34% to 68% in 2024, and remote work declined from 44% to 17%, suggesting heightened relocation demand as employees are required to reside closer to their offices.
The real estate market and available housing also made the list of top external factors in 2023, butincreases in mortgage rates were new to the list in 2024. As mortgage rates rose as high as 7.3% in the US, relocating employees became more difficult. This is known as the lock-in effect, a phenomenon that disincentivises moves due to rising housing prices and a reluctance to give up low-interest mortgages. As a result, employers adapted relocation policies and incentives. This is evident by the significant decrease in the number of declined relocations due to insufficient financial support, down 10 points to only 7% in 2024.
Survey data also reveals family obligations were again the leading cause for employees declining relocation offers ...
Photo: Atlas World Group CEO, Jack Griffin.