Timeline of significant business and relocation industry events
Early 1900s - 1960s
The early 1900s marked a period of significant industrial, economic, and geopolitical transformation that laid the groundwork for modern global business practices and workforce mobility.
- The Second Industrial Revolution was in full swing, driving advancements in technology, transportation and communication. Innovations such as the widespread use of electricity, expansion of railways and greater access to automobiles allow businesses to scale operations across borders more efficiently and people to migrate more freely.
- This period also ushered in the rise of multinational corporations, particularly in industries like manufacturing, oil and finance, creating new opportunities for international collaboration and trade.
- Along with that increased competition, expansion and migration, complex geopolitical and economic tensions began to rise, ultimately contributing to the eruption of two world wars (1914 –1918 and 1939 – 1945).
- The stock market crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression and prompted the U.S. government to create the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in 1934 to help stabilize the market.
This era also saw the launch of several global organizations or charters dedicated to supporting global business, HR professionals and / or human and workforce mobility issues, such as:
1913
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), London, England
1948
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, laying the foundation for global human rights law and the recognition of equality and diversity
1948
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), greater Washington, DC area, USA
1950
Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (FIDI), Flanders, Belgium
1952
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Personalführung e.V. – DGFP (German Association for Human Resource Management), Berlin, Germany
1962
European Association for People Management (EAPM), London, England
1964
Employee Relocation Real Estate Advisory Council (ERREAC) in Chicago, IL, USA – the foundation for what later became known as ERC and is now WERC, greater Washington, DC area, USA
1965
Confederation of British Industry (CBI), London, England
Other interesting developments happening during this time:
- 1964: Xerox Corporation introduces the first widely commercialized fax machine, building on the pioneering printing telegraph work of Alexander Bain in the mid-1800s.
- 1969: The first moon landing sparks advancements in technology and innovation, inspiring industries globally to focus on R&D and engineering skills.
1970 - 1989
The 1970s saw a combination of greater advancements in communication and global trade, along with significant geopolitical and economic upheaval.
1971
Introduction of email by Ray Tomlinson revolutionizes communication, enabling global collaboration across businesses
1973
The oil crisis disrupts global economies, leading to increased energy costs and forcing businesses to rethink supply chain and production strategies
1978
Expansion of existing agreements like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), originally signed in 1947 in Geneva, encourages greater international trade, influencing workforce mobility
1978
Employee Relocation Council (ERC) relocates headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D.C., signaling the growing influence of policy and advocacy in workforce mobility
Throughout the ‘80s, double-digit interest rates and greater discrepancies in the cost of living prompted wider use of various types of mortgage support in the U.S., including mortgage interest differentials, adjustable rates and buy-downs.
1981
IBM launches the first personal computer, fueling the digital revolution and transforming global business operations
1982
Formation of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Toronto, Canada
1989
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolizes the end of the Cold War, opening up new markets and reshaping global mobility
1989
Peak of the Savings & Loan (S&L) industry collapse in the U.S., lasting into the early 1990s, drives a sharp decline in real estate prices in many regions and prompts regulatory reform
1990 - 2009
1991
Introduction of the World Wide Web (www) ignites a technology boom, revolutionizing communication and business processes across borders
1994
Formation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) fosters cross-border trade and workforce mobility across North America
1998
Formation of the European Relocation Association (EuRA)
1999
The Euro is introduced as a single currency for the European Union (following its conceptual origination as part of the 1991 Maastricht Treaty), simplifying economic transactions and facilitating smoother mobility for workers within member nations
2000
The dot-com bubble burst that began in the early 2000s highlights the importance of sustainable tech ecosystems, driving caution in technology innovations
2000
The housing bubble in the U.S. of the early 2000s was largely fueled by subprime mortgages, ultimately prompting millions of foreclosures and the collapse of many major banking and financial institutions
2002
Foundation of HRM Asia in Singapore
2004
Founding of the Spanish Association of International Labour Mobility as the Expatriates Forum – FEEX, Madrid, Spain
2005
Google's global expansion reshapes how businesses interact and analyze data
2005
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes a landmark Revenue Ruling 2005-74 in the U.S., ensuring that employee home sale programs structured properly and following WERC’s 11 Key Elements can be treated as two separate sales for tax compliance, directly influencing corporate mobility policies
2006
The RES Forum is created as an independent community for international HR & mobility professionals
2007-2009
The global financial crisis of the Great Recession disrupts economies worldwide, significantly reducing employee relocation budgets and reshaping mobility expectations
2010 - 2022
2010
Cloud computing becomes mainstream, enabling remote work, enhanced collaboration, and better global workforce integration
2010
Founding of Expat Academy
2015
The earliest block of Gen Z individuals begin to enter the workforce, bringing five generations together for the first time in history
2015
All United Nations (UN) member states adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet
2015
Adoption of the Paris Agreement forces businesses to rethink sustainability, including eco-friendly global mobility strategies (officially entered into force at the end of 2016)
2015
Gig economy platforms like Uber and Upwork gain traction, changing workforce expectations and mobility patterns
2016
The General Data Protection Agreement (GDPR) legal framework is introduced, designed to protect the personal data of individuals within the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) and officially enters into application on May 25, 2018
2018
The moving expense tax deduction is eliminated in the U.S., with the exception of active military members in certain circumstances (the current law is set to expire at the end of 2025)
2019
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) begins to redefine roles within businesses, emphasizing a growing need to re-skill talent
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic vastly accelerates global remote work adoption, transforming traditional workforce mobility models virtually overnight
2020
Supply chain disruptions due to pandemic challenges emphasize the importance of strategic and advanced planning for talent relocation and companies revisit HHG shipping policies in light of massive port disruptions, delays and escalated costs
2020
NAFTA substitution known as the CUSMA, T-MEC or USMCA goes into effect, strengthening the enforcement of labor laws and including a new chapter on digital trade, increasing protections related to intellectual property and privacy concerns, among other provisions
2020
After the first launch in Estonia in 2020, digital nomad visas continue to gain popularity, offering a new dimension to global workforce mobility
2021
Geopolitical tensions, such as Brexit, introduce new complexities in workforce movement within and outside of Europe
2022
Formation of the Asia Talent Mobility Alliance in Hong Kong
