Welcome to Mobility Minute, a newsletter published every Friday byWorldwide ERC®for the benefit of members and the global mobility and relocation industry. Here’s a quick glimpse of what you’ll find in this week’s issue:
From Davos to Dallas: The Power of One Industry to Take on a ‘Polycrisis’ and More
Working With Gen Z
Cap Reached for H-2B Visas in FY 2023
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From Davos to Dallas: The Power of One Industry to Take on a ‘Polycrisis’ and More
Lynn Shotwell, president and CEO of Worldwide ERC®, was in Dallas, Texas, last week to meet with North Texas Relocation Professional (NTRP). Coming on the heels of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the NTRP event offered an opportune moment to reinforce the power of our one industry to take on the greatest challenges of our time—and how Worldwide ERC is serving as that one, powerful voice to advocate for talent mobility professionals.
A new term took center stage at Davos: “polycrisis.” A polycrisis is when a bunch of individual risks happen at the same time and add up to a crisis that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. Experts don’t think we are in a polycrisis yet, but they emphasized that governments, the private sector, and civil society must work together to avert such a catastrophic situation.
The room of professionals who had gathered for this event reinforced that when our industry comes together as one, there is no challenge we can’t solve. Worldwide ERC is proud to be the only organization that brings us together as one—tracking relevant trends, providing the right tools, and building the team of members, volunteers, and professional staff who help lead the way.
According to the World Economic Forum, Generation Z will make up a little over a quarter of the workforce in OECD countries and a third of the total global population by 2025. Gen Z, defined as people born around 1996 through 2012, is also the most diverse generation in the U.S. Gen Z has a different set of priorities from previous workforce generations that will influence how companies and organizations build internal culture and attract and retain talent.
Why is this important?
There are four considerations that employers will need to take seriously for engaging with the newest generation of workers. Among these considerations is the fact that mental health is crucial for Gen Z workers. A study by Deloitte found that 46% of Gen Z respondents say they are stressed or anxious all or most of the time, 8% higher than the millennials surveyed. Increased access to mental health resources without stigma and resources to reduce burnout that are well integrated into company culture are key for HR leaders to understand when it comes to Gen Z workers.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 18,216 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2023. USCIS will continue to accept petitions for H-2B nonimmigrant workers for the additional 20,000 visas allotted for nationals of Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Why is this important?
USCIS recently began accepting H-2B petitions under the 15 December temporary final rule increasing the cap by up to 64,716 additional H-2B nonimmigrant visas for fiscal year FY 2023. Petitioners whose workers were not accepted for the 18,216 returning-worker allotment are encouraged to file under the Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allotment while visas remain available. As of 26 January 2023, USCIS has received petitions requesting 4,260 workers under the 20,000 visas set aside for nationals of Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Webinar: Fragomen Presents Immigration Kaleidoscope: Sensemaking in an Uncertain World — In this session, held 9 February, hear from specialists from around the globe as they weigh in on key issues such as the impact of layoffs in the tech sector in the United States, how the global war for talent is shaping corporate immigration policies, and the challenges of remaining compliant in a rapidly changing environment. Learn more and register.
Webinar: Car Services – How to Manage Assignees’ Global Transportation Needs — This session, held 28 February, will explain how to create and manage a Global Transportation Plan. We will discuss the challenges international assignees faces in new locations and how to overcome these. And how you can manage and centralize all your global transportation expenses. Learn more and register.
Worldwide ERC Town Hall: Strategic Plan and Beyond — Hear from Lynn Shotwell, Worldwide ERC president and CEO, and Anupam Singhal, Worldwide ERC chairman, on 2 March about the 2023 strategic planning that will guide the organization throughout the coming years. Learn more and register.
Global Economic Snapshot
USCIS announced new designs to improve the security of Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The new Green Card and EAD design changes include improved detailed artwork, enhanced optically variable ink, and highly secure holographic images. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
A deluge of layoffs at Google and other tech companies is throwing a wrench into immigrant workers’ green card plans. Google is pausing its filing of new labor certifications—known as PERM applications—to ensure compliance with U.S. Labor Department regulations. PERM applications are a preliminary step to sponsoring a worker for an employment-based green card and are critical to H-1B specialty occupation workers’ ability to extend their stay in the U.S. beyond the usual six-year limit. — Bloomberg
The International Monetary Fund said Monday that it now expects global growth will slow from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023. That’s up from a forecast of 2.7% in October. The upgrade in the outlook reflects China’s “sudden reopening,” which the IMF said “paves the way for a rapid rebound in activity.” — CNN
Before the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed international travel in 2020, China sent more travelers overseas than any other market, with about 150 million Chinese tourists spending $277 billion abroad in 2018, according to a study by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the China Tourism Academy.
Destinations are still waiting for the flood of Chinese vacationers to arrive
On 8 January, the Chinese government opened its borders, allowing foreign travelers to enter and Chinese residents to go overseas. But while there has been a bump in tourism to nearby destinations, including Macau, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore, farther-flung destinations are still waiting. While many travel operators are eager for their return, some worry that the industry may not be able to keep up with a new influx of tourists.
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