10 Years of Talent Wars: A Decade of Data on Talent Mobility
October 27, 2026
What can ten years of talent mobility research teach us about the future of talent attraction?
On this special anniversary episode of Talent Wars, host Patience Fairbrother Wallace sits down with Robyn Domber, senior vice president of research at DCI, to look back on a decade of Talent Wars research and examine how talent decision-making has evolved. Together, they discuss what has changed, what has remained consistent and how economic uncertainty, remote work and shifting workforce expectations are influencing relocation decisions today.
Drawing on findings from the 2026 Talent Wars report, Robyn shares why people are approaching relocation more carefully than ever before and how affordability, housing, quality of life and a sense of belonging now play a critical role in determining whether a move feels feasible. She also explains why communities must move beyond broad recruitment strategies and focus on attracting and retaining the audiences most likely to choose their location.
Listen in to learn:
- What a decade of Talent Wars research reveals about changing talent mobility trends
- Why affordability, stability and quality of life are increasingly influencing relocation decisions
- How the new “feasibility” stage is reshaping the talent attraction funnel
- Which audiences are most likely to relocate and how communities can target them effectively
- Why precision overreach is becoming the winning strategy for talent attraction and retention efforts
Tune in to hear what ten years of data tells us about where talent is headed next and how communities can position themselves for long-term success.
Listen and subscribe to Talent Wars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To submit guest or episode topic ideas, email patience.fairbrother@aboutdci.com.
