Survey of over 160 global mobility professionals reveals that:
- 66 per cent of the industry identified Asia as the biggest growth area for global assignments in the next year
- Global mobility still a niche specialism, with 79 per cent working in teams of less than 15 people
- 63 per cent think that demand for the services of global mobility professionals will increase in the next 12 months
- Over 50 per cent of global mobility professionals earn between £30,000 and £59,000 a year
The survey showed that global mobility can be a challenging sector, with 58 per cent saying that they felt their job had become more difficult in the last three years, and respondents citing tight budgets and increasingly demanding assignees as the reason for this.
Despite this, the sector scored highly for job satisfaction, with 70 per cent saying that they were either ‘quite happy’ or ‘very happy’ in their job at the moment. Almost three quarters per cent of those surveyed said that their job felt secure and 65 per cent felt valued by their employer, with just 21 per cent saying that they did not.
The majority of respondents were also confident about the future of the industry, with 63 per cent saying that they thought that demand for the services of global mobility professionals would grow in the next year.
Growth in the global economy, skills shortages and increased career opportunities offered by overseas assignments were also identified as drivers behind the potential upsurge in demand.
The minority (10 per cent) who did not expect to see growth in demand for global mobility services said that they thought the high cost of international assignments might lead to a downturn in the market.
Global mobility professionals were also revealed as an ambitious group, with the majority (70 per cent) saying that increased development opportunities would be the primary motivation behind a job move. Salary was also identified as extremely important, with 58 per cent saying this would motivate them to move positions.
The shifting power bases in the global economy were in evidence, with Asia identified as the biggest growth area for global assignments with South America and the Middle East following closely behind.
Matt Reaney, Director at JAM Recruitment, said: “This survey makes for heartening reading. It shows a Global Mobility sector that is strong, secure and highly valued, with significantly above-average earning potential. Demand in the sector is consistent, and we’re seeing many opportunities available for talented professionals in this field.
“While still a relatively niche specialism at present, current trends suggest that the industry will grow considerably over the next few years as demand for highly-skilled geographically mobile professionals increases.”
