Which of the following global mobility metrics best supports strategic workforce planning?

The repatriate retention rate within 12 months is a critical metric for strategic workforce planning. It measures the organization's ability to retain the valuable skills, global experience, and organizational knowledge that employees gain during international assignments. A high retention rate indicates a successful return on investment (ROI) and shows that the company is effectively reintegrating these key talents into its long-term workforce strategy and leadership pipeline. A low rate signals a significant loss of talent and a failure in strategic planning.

A. Average relocation package cost is a financial and operational metric focused on cost control, not on the strategic value or long-term impact of mobile talent on the workforce.
B. The assignment failure rate is a risk management metric. While important, it is reactive and focuses on what went wrong rather than on the long-term strategic integration of successful assignees.
C. Time-to-fill is a recruitment efficiency metric. It measures the speed of hiring for international roles but does not provide insight into the long-term strategic value of these assignments.

1. Lazarova, M., & Cerdin, J. L. (2007). Revisiting the career capital perspective on repatriation: A model of repatriate retention. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 80(3), 443-461. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317906X153679. This paper highlights repatriate retention as a key indicator of the success of international assignments and their contribution to organizational talent pools.

2. Stahl, G. K., Björkman, I., & Morris, S. (2012). Handbook of Research in International Human Resource Management (2nd ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing. Chapter 13, "Expatriate Performance Management," and Chapter 14, "Repatriation," discuss how retention post-assignment is crucial for capitalizing on the investment made in global mobility for strategic purposes.

3. Brookfield Global Relocation Services. (2016). 2016 Global Mobility Trends Survey. This industry report, often cited in academic and professional contexts, consistently identifies repatriate retention as a key challenge and a critical metric for measuring the strategic success of mobility programs. (Note: While a vendor report, it is a foundational, widely cited data source in the academic study of global mobility).