Employees and their families are far more likely to move to Western Canada than to other areas of the country, according to a survey released by the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC).
According to CERC CEO Stephen Cryne, “Those numbers are expected to grow as employment activity picks up in the oil and gas and natural resources sectors, particularly in Western Canada.”
On the international front, survey results also found that Canadian firms are assigning employees around the globe in increasing numbers. The top five destinations are the U.S., the EU, China, Australia and South America.
The survey included several B.C.-based organizations with operations in Canada, such as the BC Government, UBC and organizations with international activities such as Methanex Corp. and QLT Inc.
For organizations moving people to B.C. – and typically Vancouver – housing costs were cited as a major concern for transferring employees, followed by concerns about spousal career issues.
While the recession has impacted the number of people companies have moved since 2009, there’s little doubt that volumes will strengthen with the business cycle. The survey found that employers have a far more optimistic outlook than they did in the 2009 survey published by CERC.
Over the next year, 25% of firms responding to the survey expect relocation volumes in Canada to grow, 20% expect activity between Canada and the U.S. to grow and 40% expect international moves to increase over the next year.
Other key findings in the survey continue to show that spousal and family issues are the most likely reason why an employee will reject a transfer. Not surprising, with the continued growth of two income households in Canada.
“The typical profile for a transferee is a married professional in that 26 to 40 age range earning about $95,000,” said Cryne. “It’s very likely that the spouse is also a professional with similar income and so decisions to move are made as a family unit. The spouse is very likely to ask, ‘What does the move mean for my career and what are the options?’”
The average cost to relocate an employee in Canada is in the $57,000 range, although some organizations shell out twice that much. The average cost of a move between Canada and the U.S. is in the neighbourhood of $77,000 and can be more like $150,000. For international transfers the average cost is about $97,000.
CERC (www.cerc.ca) is a not-for-profit association that represents the interests of leading organizations across Canada that relocate their employees for employment purposes.