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Corporate Relocation Survey 2026

EMPLOYEES DECLINING RELOCATION

Family and Housing Remain Key Barriers as Mental Health Support Gains Attention

According to 46% of survey respondents, more employees declined to relocate in 2025.

The top three reasons an employee declined to relocate were:

  1. Family issues/ties (34%)

  2. Concerns about housing/mortgage at the new location (28%)

  3. Concerns of selling/leaving the home at origin (21%) 

Year after year, family issues/ties are the top employees choose not to move. For the first time, this year's survey included "taking their children out of school or moving them to a new school" as a reason employees decline relocation-and it immediately ranked among the top five.

Housing concerns at origin and destination were key reasons why 49% of employees declined a relocation. Last year, 30-year fixed mortgage rates in the U.S. started around 7% and ended at 6.2% (Mortgage News Daily®). Coupled with higher home prices, that one-two punch has made moving significantly less affordable.

Reasons an Employee Declined Relocation 2024 vs. 2025