Companies relocating fewer employees

Economic uncertainty and high relocation costs appear to have contributed to an overall decline in employee relocations, according to a recent survey conducted by Merrill Lynch Relocation Management Inc.

Major companies report a 9 percent decrease in transfer activity. Those employees who did relocate, however, received more benefits and reimbursements from their companies.

The average company transferred 143 employees, of which 66 percent were homeowners and 5 percent were women. Further, while nearly half (47 percent) of the companies surveyed expected their transfer situation to remain about the same through 1980, 33 percent predicted a decrease. This is the biggest decrease expected since the survey was started eight years ago.