Global Mobility Trends in 2025: What Changed, What’s Next, and How Companies Are Managing in 2026?

Global mobility trends last year were influenced by significant economic uncertainty, geopolitical regional issues in Europe, Africa, Middle East, and elsewhere, evolving, more restrictive immigration regulatory frameworks, and disruptive new technologies. This expert panel will examine global trends in the following areas:

1. Policy tightening, policy volatility and policy complexity (change with minimal notice, impacting workforce planning etc.)
2. Cost and Compliance Pressures (salary thresholds, government fees, clawbacks, remote and hybrid work)
3. Access and Adjudication Risk (processing times, stricter standards, travel bans, and impact on business speed-to-hire and recruitment)
4. Talent Strategy Shifts (AI, remote work models, short-term/alternative assignments) where skills shortage and staffing gaps remain, employee retention and maintaining a competitive edge in innovation and market expansion are key
5. Changes in family reunification policies (processing times, increased financial thresholds and definition of “dependents”)

Key audience takeaways will include:

1. Practical tips for employers and what to assess in workforce planning.
2. Early warning signals to watch for in adjudication trends.
3. How mobility teams can partner more closely with business and talent teams amid uncertainty.