According to ECA International’s latest Managing Mobility survey Asian companies are reversing the mobility trend and posting staff to western markets. Among the Asian companies surveyed, 21% reported posting staff to the USA, and almost 18% reported postings to the UK. Lee Quane, Regional Director—Asia, ECA International affirmed, “Companies from markets that were traditionally destinations for overseas postings are often now the home market for employees whose companies are sending them to places like the US.”
China still remains by far the most common market choice for Asian countries to post staff. Just over half of the Asian companies surveyed listed China among their top three most common destinations for international assignments, putting it far ahead of Singapore, at only 26%, the next most common destination. Similarly, Hong Kong, while far behind China, was also among the popular destinations with 18% of companies surveyed reporting that they posted staff there.
The reasons talent is sent on international assignments are broadly the same within and outside of Asia. In Asia, where international operations are not typically well-established, almost 60% of companies surveyed cited the primary reason as managing overseas operations. Globally this figure was 45% with other reasons including career development and filling skills gaps.
The study also reveals that globally only just over a third of companies guarantee returning assignees continued full-time employment in their home country. Among Asian employers, however, this figure is higher at almost 60%. Quane explained that the demand for skilled, talented staff with international experience is particularly fierce in the fast- growing economies in which Asian companies operate. "The international experience and skills they will have gained will make them a highly valued asset and other companies may be keen to poach them. It is not surprising, therefore, that companies in Asia are more likely to consider guaranteeing a job post-assignment.”
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
