- Resources
- Corporate Relocation Survey
- FACTORS IMPACTING RELOCATION
Corporate Relocation Survey 2026
FACTORS IMPACTING RELOCATION
External Factors: Businesses Balance Economy, Talent, and Housing to Keep Mobility Moving
In 2025, the top three external factors impacting relocation were:
- Economic conditions (53%)
- Lack of qualified people locally (27%)
- Real estate market/available housing (26%)
Looking back 35% of companies said economic conditions had a significant impact on corporate relocation in 2023. That number rose sharply to 50% in 2024, but only increased modestly to 53% in 2025
Although the impact remained elevated compared with historical levels, economic concerns leveled off.
The number of companies that cited lack of qualified people locally/"Great Resignation" as an external factor impacting relocation dropped slightly from 29% in 2024 to 27% in 2025.
Globally, housing market volatility remained a big story. Shrinking supply. elevated mortgage rates, and high home prices dampened demand, and 26% of companies said the real estate market impacted the number of employees they moved.
The most significant shift in external factors influencing relocation was a 9% increase in political and regulatory considerations (domestic and international). This came on the heels of major changes to the H-1B visa process in the U.S., requiring petitions to be submitted with a $100,000 payment.
Internal Drivers of Relocation Reflect Growth, Production, and Structural Changes
In 2025, the top internal factors impacting relocation were:
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Growth of company (41%)
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Increased Production (29%)
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Corporate reorganization/restructuring (29%)
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Budget constraints (29%)
Company growth remained the leading factor year over year, though it did not rise compared with 2024. This pattern mirrors trends in two of the survey's most represented industries-healthcare and construction-which, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, were among just five U.S. sectors that experienced growth in 2025.
Nearly one-third of companies identified increased production as a key internal factor that influenced employee relocations. Increased production was new to the top three internal factors in 2025.
Corporate reorganization or restructuring was cited by 29% of respondents as an internal factor impacting relocations. Along with company growth and increased production, these changes suggest that relocations were driven less by downsizing and more by efforts to reposition businesses for expansion.
