TLDR: A recent EY survey highlights that employee mobility is a crucial element of talent strategy, with 81% of Indian employees considering it career-transformative. Indian organizations are increasingly adopting Generative AI to optimize mobility programs, despite facing challenges like data security and a lack of in-house AI expertise.
New Delhi/Mumbai, July 21, 2025 – Employee mobility is rapidly evolving into a cornerstone of global talent strategy, with a significant impact on career progression, particularly in India. According to the recently released EY 2025 Mobility Reimagined Survey, an impressive 81% of Indian employees view mobility assignments as transformative for their careers, underscoring its pivotal role in driving organizational growth and enhancing talent retention.
The comprehensive survey, which gathered insights from 1,074 mobility professionals across 22 countries, reveals that companies are increasingly leveraging employee movement to close skill gaps and cultivate future-ready teams. Evolved mobility programs are proving to be 3.7 times more effective at addressing talent shortages globally.
For Indian professionals, skill development stands out as the primary motivator for pursuing mobility experiences, cited by 62% of employees. A competitive financial package followed as a key driver for 44% of respondents. From the employers’ perspective, the top benefit derived from global mobility is the ability to address skill gaps and add substantial value to the organization. Furthermore, 47% of Indian employers believe that high-performance or future leader programs significantly impact employee growth.
A notable trend highlighted by the report is the growing adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) by Indian organizations to streamline mobility programs and enhance the overall employee experience. A substantial 72% of employers indicated that GenAI plays a crucial role in bridging talent gaps by efficiently identifying skill shortages across different countries. However, this integration is not without its hurdles; 25% of organizations pointed to data security concerns and limited in-house AI expertise as significant barriers to wider adoption. Despite these challenges, organizations are already realizing tangible benefits from integrating GenAI into their mobility strategies.
The survey also sheds light on the evolving expectations of Indian professionals regarding flexibility. A high 70% ranked flexibility as a top priority in their mobility experience, alongside a demand for greater customization in areas such as housing, health insurance, and relocation. Interestingly, 50% of respondents expressed a willingness to consider virtual assignments as a future form of mobility.
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Sonu Iyer, Partner and National Leader – People Advisory Services Tax, EY India, emphasized the strategic shift: “The future of work demands that mobility evolves from a transactional process into a strategic driver of organisational agility and employee empowerment. As talent expectations shift, companies must rethink how they design mobility experiences — prioritising flexibility, personalisation, and continuous development.” Looking ahead to 2025, Indian employers are primarily focused on better integrating their talent strategy with mobility programs, followed closely by leveraging mobility to attract, retain, and develop talent while enhancing the overall employee experience.
