EVANSVILLE, IND. (April 3, 2025) — Today, leading mover Atlas® Van Lines launched its 58th annual Corporate Relocation Survey, the first and longest-running study providing a comprehensive look at trends in corporate relocation policies and practices. The 2025 study reflects overall increases in relocation volumes and budgets in 2024, signaling a strategic emphasis on talent mobility.

“It is more important than ever for businesses to understand and adapt to the evolving needs of their employees,” said Jack Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Atlas® World Group. “Atlas’ Corporate Relocation Survey offers a glimpse into employee motivations and how companies are responding. In this year’s report, we see a significant shift away from one-size-fits-all relocation policies towards innovative, customizable approaches, creating opportunities for businesses and employees alike.”

The top external factors impacting relocation in 2024 include economic conditions, lack of qualified people locally, real estate market/available housing, and increases in mortgage rates. Amid the tightest labor markets in advanced economies in two decades, the number of companies that cited a lack of a qualified talent pool as a factor that impacted relocation increased by two points from 2023 to 29% in 2024.

To combat that shortage, 30% of companies said they were considering moving their offices to another city, a 6% increase from 2023. Corporations are eyeing business-friendly environments that offer lower tax rates and operating costs, as well as areas where workers choose to live, which typically have a lower cost of living and better quality of life. Additionally, the number of in-person workers doubled from 34% to 68% in 2024, and remote work declined from 44% to 17%, suggesting heightened relocation demand as employees are required to reside closer to their offices.

The real estate market and available housing also made the list of top external factors in 2023, but increases in mortgage rates were new to the list in 2024. As mortgage rates rose as high as 7.3% in the U.S., relocating employees became more difficult. This is known as the “lock-in effect,” a phenomenon that disincentivizes moves due to rising housing prices and a reluctance to give up low-interest mortgages. As a result, employers adapted relocation policies and incentives. This is evident by the significant decrease in the number of declined relocations due to insufficient financial support, down 10 points to only 7% in 2024.

Survey data also reveals family obligations were again the leading cause for employees declining relocation offers. This has been the most common answer from 2013 to 2021, and after a brief period in second place, it moved back to the top spot in 2024. The weight of the responsibility of caring for one’s family is so pervasive that U.S. Department of Labor research found family responsibilities to be the top reason some Gen X and Millennials did not enter the workforce at all.

As a result of these factors – including the labor shortage, an observed decline in formal relocation policies, and family obligations influencing relocation decisions – companies are moving beyond structured relocation packages and procedures in favor of more customizable options. Only 24% of companies offered fixed benefits to all relocating employees, down from more than half in 2023. Instead, companies are shifting away from universally fixed benefits. 35% of businesses report tailoring benefits based on an employee’s level, and 31% align benefits with specific relocation policies, reflecting a move toward structured yet adaptable relocation policies.

558 firms from over 20 industries, all involved in regional, national, and international relocations within the past two years or planning to relocate employees in 2025, completed the online questionnaire between November 29, 2024, and January 15, 2025. In the report, these firms are categorized by size:

• Small: Fewer than 500 employees (29%)
• Midsize: 500-4,999 employees (54%)
• Large: 5,000+ employees (15%)

For this year’s complete survey, visit the Atlas Van Lines Corporate Relocation Survey results online at https://www.atlasvanlines.com/resources/corporate-relocation-survey. A complete report booklet of critical findings, charts, and the comprehensive survey is also available for download.

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About Atlas® Van Lines

Atlas Van Lines, Inc., a national moving company, is the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group, Inc., an Evansville, Indiana-based company. Atlas World Group companies employ over 600 people throughout North America. More than 200 Atlas interstate moving Agents in the United States and Canada specialize in corporate relocation, household moving services, and in the specialized transportation of high-value items such as electronics, fine art, store fixtures, and furniture. For more information, visit www.atlasvanlines.com.