             Global/Multicultural             
References                   Work Place                        Case

June 14, 1994

Business Globalization stimulates increase in foreign assignments.

Despite corporate downsizing, the number of expatriate employees at international companies is on the rise, says the National Foreign Trade Council. Of 120 companies surveyed by the U.S. exporters' group, 61% said they have more employees overseas now than five years ago, and plan more growth soon. New hot spots include China, India and Vietnam. The biggest growth areas are telecommunications and consumer products.

Amoco's need for overseas employees has grown with demand for its chemical products in developing Pacific Rim economies. But "international assignees" at BankAmerica Corp. have dropped 20% in five years as the company promotes more foreign nationals. Tenneco Corp.'s automotive unit notes globalization caused a 50% increase in its third-country nationals - employees from one country based in a second country to perform work in a third country.

Some 10% of all expatriate employees are female, up from 5% just a few years ago, the foreign trade council says.

             Global/Multicultural             
References                   Work Place                        Case