Overwhelmingly, three-quarters of respondents said that innovation and technological solutions, like AI and automation, will positively transform the way they hire, recruit, and retain talent, and work globally. More than one-third of respondents also indicated a steadfast pursuit of new market opportunities for worker recruitment and retention to overcome disruptions in the workplace and supply chain caused by the pandemic overhang.

While geopolitical concerns, global conflict, financial market volatility, and macroeconomic uncertainties persist, 78% of business executives still have a positive outlook towards global business, up 11% from the Fall 2022 survey. Key insights include a greater need for global connectedness and cross-border collaboration, demand for increased uses of innovation and technology to adapt to environmental change, and widespread enthusiasm for continued international activities.

“The way we work, post-Covid, has changed forever,” said Francisco Gomez, Founder & CEO of Factum Global. “The results of this survey demonstrate how executives have strategically embraced innovation and technology as a competitive advantage to attract, hire, and retain top talent in new markets around the world. It also revealed a continued strong enthusiasm for working internationally, despite ongoing global challenges.”

The Factum Global Business Sentiment Survey, conducted in collaboration with Global Chamber® and WeConnect from February 14, 2023, to March 12, 2023, was answered by nearly 120 business executives (Director level to C-Suite). Respondents represented a range of industries, company sizes, and functional specialties. 57% of respondents were U.S.-based and 43% were headquartered in nearly 20 countries across Asia-Pacific (8.5%), Europe (19.5%), South America (6.1%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (8.5%).