The State of Long-Term Assignments in 2025 — and How You Can Help Benchmark What’s Next

Latest global mobility insights indicate that long-term international assignments (LTAs) remain a vital yet evolving part of global business strategy. While companies continue to explore short-term assignments, commuter models, and remote work, LTAs continue to play an irreplaceable role in leadership development, market expansion, and global talent deployment.

Key Metrics & Insights (2024–2025):

• Prevalence and Stability: Despite diversification in mobility types, LTAs (usually between 1–5 years) still represent a key policy, despite drops in usage and duration over the last 5 years. In our last Mobility Trends & Insights Survey, 88% of companies predicted their LTA volume would increase (38%) or stay the same (50%). 

• Duration: The average LTA now lasts 2.6 years, slightly down from 2.88 years in 2020, with 3–5 years still the most common upper limit.

• Cost and ROI: Relocate Magazine shared that a three-year LTA for an employee earning $75–100K can cost employers up to $1 million total, and the average administration cost has risen to around $9,800. Yet, many companies still lack clear ROI tracking.

• Failure Rates: 16–40% of assignments end prematurely. However, organizations offering coaching and family support have seen up to a 64% reduction in failures and a 97% completion rate.

• Gender Dynamics: Men continue to dominate longer assignments (2+ years), while women are more often placed in shorter-term or project-based roles.

• Emerging Focus Areas:

  • Flexibility: Nearly 75% of organizations are revising LTA policies to allow for more personalized benefits.

  • Well-being: 98% of expats report burnout symptoms; family dissatisfaction remains the top cause of early return.

  • Technology & Compliance: Growing use of automation, AI, and digital tools is helping manage the complex landscape of immigration, tax, and policy administration.

These findings underline the need for strong benchmarking data — to see where the market is heading and how organizations are adapting their policies for the next phase of global mobility.

Participate in ECA International’s 2025 Relocation Benefits Survey

To help advance this understanding, ECA International is inviting global mobility and HR professionals to take part in its International Relocation Benefits Survey 2025.

Running since 2014, this survey examines how organizations support employees relocating on long-term international assignments — covering everything from allowances and temporary housing to family and immigration support.

Participants receive:

• A complimentary summary report of key findings

• Full access to detailed benchmarking results

The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete (you can save and return later) and is open until 21 November 2025.
👉 Take the survey here

We’ll also be hosting ECA International in a Spotlight Webinar in mid-January, where they’ll share the survey’s results and insights into how relocation benefits are evolving globally.