As Indian companies navigate a rapidly evolving talent landscape, employee mobility is emerging as a cornerstone of future-ready workforce strategies, according to the EY 2025 Mobility Reimagined Survey.
The report, based on responses from 1,074 mobility professionals across 22 countries, underscores the growing importance of mobility in addressing talent shortages, retaining key employees, and aligning organisational goals with workforce aspirations. A striking 81% of Indian employees believe mobility assignments are transformative for their careers.
Skill growth, flexibility
For most Indian employers, the priority is clear: integrate talent strategy more effectively with mobility programmes. The aim is to use mobility not just to fill roles but to attract, develop and retain talent while offering richer employee experiences.
“Mobility is no longer just about filling roles; it’s about unlocking potential, fostering innovation, and building resilient, future-ready organisations that can thrive amid uncertainty and rapid change,” said Sonu Iyer, partner and national leader, people advisory services – tax, EY India. “As talent expectations shift, companies must rethink how they design mobility experiences — prioritising flexibility, personalisation, and continuous development.”
Indian professionals are redefining what they expect from global assignments. While 62% of the respondents cited skill development as their top motivator, 44% prioritised a competitive financial package. Yet, flexibility is fast becoming non-negotiable: 70% of Indian employees ranked it as a top priority in any mobility experience. In fact, 50% said they would consider virtual assignments as a form of mobility in the future.
AI, personalisation reshape workforce
Customisation is also in focus — employees now expect support tailored to their needs in areas such as housing, health insurance, and relocation. Responding to this, 59% of Indian organisations have already introduced flexible policies within their international mobility programmes.
GenAI is another frontier where Indian firms are innovating. Around 72% of employers said generative AI is helping bridge talent gaps by identifying skill shortages across markets. However, 25% of organisations cited data security and limited in-house AI expertise as key barriers to wider adoption.
“Global mobility is fast becoming a strategic lever to future-proof organisations,” said Amarpal Chadha, partner and India mobility leader, people advisory services – tax, EY India. “It’s not just about moving talent, it’s about transforming how businesses respond to skills disruption, access diverse capabilities, and build competitive advantage in a dynamic global landscape.”
Globally, the report found that evolved mobility functions are 3.7 times more likely to help organisations address talent shortages in the medium term. These companies also show better tracking of metrics such as performance ratings, promotion rates post-assignment, and speed to fill roles — making mobility a measurable and impactful pillar of business strategy.