Journal Profile & Submission Guide

Journal of Global Mobility: Scopus Indexing, Scope, Metrics & Author Guide

Journal of Global Mobility (JGM) is an Emerald Publishing journal focused on global mobility and global employees. Its core research community includes scholars studying expatriates, self-initiated expatriates, migrants who cross borders for work, inpatriates, international business travellers, short-term assignees and international commuters. The journal also explicitly welcomes research on internationally mobile people outside conventional corporate settings, including diplomats, academics, teachers, volunteers, military personnel, missionaries, sports professionals, artists and healthcare employees.

For a researcher deciding whether JGM is a realistic publication target, the important question is not simply whether a manuscript contains an international sample. The manuscript needs to make global mobility itself meaningful to the research problem. JGM states that it is interested in theoretical and empirical perspectives on global mobility, including antecedents, correlates and consequences of mobility-related activities and phenomena, and it particularly values new domains or fresh insights obtained by revisiting established topics.

The journal is published by Emerald Publishing, carries print ISSN 2049-8799 and eISSN 2049-8802, and is listed by Emerald as ranked by Scopus. The Scopus Source ID supplied for this journal is 21100446999. Emerald currently reports a 2025 CiteScore of 4.8, a 2025 Journal Impact Factor of 2.0, and a 2025 five-year Impact Factor of 2.3. These figures are reporting-year metrics and should be reconfirmed before they are used for institutional, promotion or PhD compliance decisions.

Journal information at a glance

Metrics are date-sensitive. A university, funding body or doctoral programme may apply its own list or cut-off date, so researchers should verify the database and reporting year required by their institution.

What this guide covers

• JGM's aims, scope and research community.
• Scopus, Clarivate and other indexing information visible on the publisher site.
• Current citation and publication-process metrics with reporting years.
• Article types and manuscript requirements.
• Double-anonymous review and the editorial screening process.
• Gold and green open-access options and publication fees.
• A practical manuscript-fit and submission-readiness checklist.
• Ethical ways Contentxprtz can support authors without promising acceptance.

Methodology and sources used for this journal profile

This profile prioritises the official Emerald journal page and author guidelines, the supplied Scopus Source ID, and publisher-displayed Scopus and Clarivate metrics. Where a current SJR, SNIP or quartile was not exposed through the accessible publisher/Scopus pages, institutional research-library sources that explicitly identify the Scopus reporting year are labelled as secondary verification rather than presented as publisher claims. Because indexing lists, metrics, editorial teams, fees and timelines can change, authors should revisit the official journal page and the database required by their institution immediately before submission.

What is the Journal of Global Mobility?

JGM is a specialist journal at the intersection of international management, organisational behaviour, human resource management and migration-related work research. Its distinctive unit of interest is the globally mobile employee or professional and the systems, relationships and outcomes surrounding mobility. That focus gives the journal a clearer identity than a general international-business outlet: a paper may be international without being a global-mobility paper, whereas a strong JGM manuscript normally explains why movement across borders, assignment status, relocation, mobility practices or the experience of global employees is central to the theory and evidence.

The journal is relevant to researchers working on traditional assigned expatriation, but its scope is intentionally wider. Emerald's coverage statement includes corporate and self-initiated expatriates, other work-related migrants, inpatriates, international business travellers, short-term assignees and international commuters. It also extends beyond multinational-corporation populations to globally mobile diplomats, academics, international school teachers, volunteers, military personnel, missionaries, sports professionals, artists and healthcare employees. This breadth can support interdisciplinary submissions provided the manuscript still contributes to the scholarly conversation on global mobility.

Journal aims and scope: what kinds of questions fit?

The official aims and scope describe JGM as an outlet for research on global mobility and all types of global employees. The journal welcomes both theoretical and empirical perspectives and explicitly references the antecedents, correlates and consequences of global-mobility activities and phenomena. In practical terms, that creates room for questions about who becomes mobile, how mobility decisions are made, what individuals and families experience during assignments, how organisations design and manage mobility, and what happens to careers, identities, performance, wellbeing, relationships and organisations as a result.

JGM says it is especially interested in new domains of global mobility and in fresh insight produced by re-examining established subjects. Most contributions are empirical and may use quantitative or qualitative methods, but the journal also welcomes rigorous theoretical developments and focused, comprehensive literature reviews. Recent publisher-highlighted work illustrates the breadth: organisational and family support in remote-work transitions, assigned expatriates becoming long-term migrants, highly skilled non-Western migrants, cultural intelligence and expatriate effectiveness, and research agendas around expatriation.

Subjects and research themes covered by JGM

Is Journal of Global Mobility indexed in Scopus?

Yes. Emerald lists JGM as ranked by Scopus, and the journal record supplied for this guide identifies Scopus Source ID 21100446999. The journal is also listed by Emerald in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and in a range of library and business-research databases, including ABI/INFORM and ProQuest services, RePEc and the British Library. For Scopus-dependent doctoral or institutional requirements, authors should open the source profile and confirm active coverage and the exact metric year required by their institution.

Scopus category data reported by institutional research portals place JGM in Business and International Management and Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. Wageningen University & Research Library reports Q2 positioning in both categories for the 2024 Scopus metrics. Because quartiles are recalculated by year and category, this should not be rewritten as a permanent “JGM is Q2” claim; verify the latest applicable year before citing the quartile in a thesis or appraisal document.

Current journal metrics and what they mean

These numbers help describe visibility and selectivity, but they should not replace manuscript-fit analysis. CiteScore and Impact Factor measure citation activity using different databases and windows. SJR and SNIP add other normalisations, while quartile describes a journal's position within a category. A manuscript that is clearly outside JGM's scope will not become suitable simply because the author needs a particular quartile; conversely, a carefully aligned paper can still face rejection because editorial decisions also consider novelty, theoretical contribution, methods, writing quality and the strength of the evidence.

Emerald currently reports 33 days to first decision for submissions between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 and 37 days from acceptance to publication, last updated April 2025. The journal separately describes a 30-day turnaround policy for first submissions. Authors should read the 30-day statement as a journal aim rather than a guaranteed deadline, while the 33-day figure is a historical average for the stated reporting period.

What article types does JGM publish?

During submission, Emerald lists the main article classifications as Research Paper, Conceptual Paper and Literature Review. The broader publisher classification guidance also describes categories such as research papers, viewpoints, technical papers and conceptual papers. For JGM specifically, the aims and scope emphasise empirical studies, rigorous theoretical development and focused comprehensive literature reviews, so authors should choose the submission classification that most accurately reflects the manuscript rather than trying to force a paper into a category for perceived advantage.

Empirical manuscripts can use quantitative, qualitative or mixed designs when the method is appropriate to the question. A conceptual paper needs a genuine theoretical development rather than a narrative summary, while a literature review should be focused, comprehensive and capable of advancing understanding rather than merely cataloguing previous expatriation studies.

Who should consider submitting to JGM?

JGM can be a credible target for researchers in international human resource management, international business, organisational behaviour, cross-cultural management, careers, migration and mobility studies when their central contribution concerns global employees or mobility phenomena. PhD scholars and early-career researchers may also find the journal relevant when a thesis chapter develops a clear, standalone contribution that fits this domain.

Researchers should be cautious if the manuscript is mainly about general employee attitudes, leadership, marketing, internationalisation or migration policy with only a weak connection to global work and mobility. A country comparison alone is not evidence of scope fit. Before submission, compare the manuscript with several recent JGM papers: examine how they frame the global-mobility problem, which theories they engage, who their populations are and how the mobility context affects the contribution.

JGM manuscript requirements authors should check

How the submission and peer-review process works

JGM uses a double-anonymous peer-review process. Emerald's JGM guidance explains that the Editor-in-Chief initially checks whether a manuscript is suitable for the journal, including scope and basic quality. An editorial assistant can also check compliance with preparation guidelines, and a plagiarism/similarity check may be conducted. Manuscripts with serious scope or quality problems can be desk rejected; easily fixable submission problems may be returned so the author can correct them.

If the paper proceeds, reviewers are selected for relevant expertise and are expected to provide constructive, developmental feedback. Double anonymity means the manuscript should not reveal author identities. Emerald specifically advises authors to remove names from the manuscript and figures, separate biographies and acknowledgements, and use neutral wording when citing their own work. This matters because a technically excellent manuscript can still create review problems if the file itself identifies the research team.

Submission must be made by the corresponding author through the journal's ScholarOne site. Emerald states that JGM submissions should not be sent by email and should not be submitted through a third-party proxy, agent or company. Professional support can help an author prepare and check the files, but the author remains responsible for the submission account, declarations, approvals and final upload.

Open access, APCs and publication charges

JGM operates as a hybrid journal. Authors can choose the conventional publication route without an article processing charge, or select gold open access if they want the version of record to be immediately open under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence. Emerald states that the APC is requested after acceptance, not at submission.

Emerald's 2026 open-access page lists a standard hybrid-journal APC of £3,222 / US$4,351 / €3,710, plus VAT where applicable. Because prices and agreements can change, an author should verify the amount displayed by Emerald or ScholarOne when making the OA choice and check whether an institutional publishing agreement covers the charge.

Emerald also offers green open access: after official publication, the author accepted manuscript can be made openly available without an embargo and without paying an APC. The exact repository and funder conditions should still be checked against the author's institutional policy.

Research ethics and responsible AI use

Emerald states that it follows COPE guidance and requires original work that is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere. Authors must declare conflicts of interest, identify legitimate authorship contributions, acknowledge funding, obtain necessary permissions and address ethical approval and informed consent when research involves human participants.

The publisher's current AI policy is particularly important for researchers using generative tools. Emerald permits generative AI for copy-editing an author's own existing work to improve structure, clarity, language or grammar, subject to transparency and author accountability, but states that generative AI must not be used to create, draft or write new submission content. Large language models cannot be credited as authors. Researchers preparing for JGM should therefore preserve a clear record of human authorship, verify every factual statement and citation, and disclose AI use where the policy requires it.

How to decide whether your manuscript fits JGM

How to prepare a stronger journal-aligned manuscript

As a practical publication-readiness step, build the introduction around a mobility-specific research problem rather than beginning with a broad statement about globalisation. Show what is not yet understood, why the gap matters to global-mobility theory or practice, and what the study changes. The literature review should connect directly to the question rather than becoming a long inventory of expatriation research.

For empirical work, explain why the chosen population, countries, assignment type and mobility status matter. Report sampling, measures or qualitative procedures clearly enough for readers to judge credibility. If the manuscript uses broad labels such as “expatriate,” “migrant,” “global employee” or “international assignee,” define them and use them consistently. JGM covers many types of globally mobile people, so conceptual precision improves both theory and interpretation.

Before uploading, run a separate compliance pass for the 5,000–10,000-word limit, structured abstract, keywords, Harvard references, funding statement, anonymisation, permissions, ethical declarations and supplementary materials. A final language edit should improve clarity without changing the underlying claims or hiding methodological limitations.

Common reasons a manuscript may be unsuitable

• The paper is international but global mobility is peripheral to the research question.
• The manuscript repeats a well-established expatriation relationship without explaining what new domain, mechanism, context or theoretical insight is gained.
• The sample is globally mobile, but the analysis does not use mobility status meaningfully.
• The paper is outside the 5,000–10,000-word requirement or lacks the required structured abstract.
• The anonymised file reveals author identity.
• References, permissions, ethics approval, consent or conflict-of-interest declarations are incomplete.
• The contribution is framed only as “few studies exist in Country X” without a stronger theoretical reason the context matters.
• The paper is submitted simultaneously elsewhere or contains substantial undeclared overlap with prior work.

Publication-readiness checklist before submitting

• Re-read the current JGM aims and scope on Emerald.
• Confirm the Scopus/Clarivate status and reporting year required by your institution.
• Check every author has agreed authorship order before submission.
• Ensure the title and structured abstract accurately reflect the contribution.
• Keep the total manuscript within 5,000–10,000 words under Emerald's counting rules.
• Use no more than 12 keywords.
• Check Harvard citations and DOI details for accuracy.
• Remove names and identifying details from the review manuscript.
• Declare funding, conflicts, ethics approval and consent where relevant.
• Check tables, figures and supplementary files for readability and anonymity.
• Decide whether conventional, gold OA or green self-archiving best fits funder and institutional requirements.
• Submit personally through ScholarOne; do not delegate the actual submission to a third-party proxy.

How Contentxprtz can support ethical publication readiness

Contentxprtz can support researchers before submission through academic editing, proofreading, language polishing, manuscript-structure review, journal-format checks, reference and citation consistency, structured-abstract refinement, cover-letter editing, reviewer-response editing and publication-readiness assessment. For researchers adapting thesis work, support can also focus on reducing dissertation-style repetition and reshaping the material into a journal article while preserving the researcher's argument, data and authorship.

Such support should remain within the journal's policies and the author's institutional rules. In particular, the author must make the scholarly decisions, verify sources, own the analysis and submit the manuscript personally. Editing can improve clarity and compliance; it cannot ethically manufacture findings, fabricate references, conceal plagiarism or guarantee acceptance. No editing or publication-assistance service can guarantee that JGM, its editors or its peer reviewers will accept a manuscript.

Journal of Global Mobility FAQs

What is the Journal of Global Mobility?

Journal of Global Mobility is an Emerald Publishing journal focused on global mobility and global employees, including expatriates, self-initiated expatriates, work-related migrants, business travellers, short-term assignees, commuters and other internationally mobile professionals.

Who publishes Journal of Global Mobility?

It is published by Emerald Publishing. The official journal page and author instructions are hosted on Emerald's website.

Is Journal of Global Mobility indexed in Scopus?

Yes. Emerald lists JGM as ranked by Scopus. The supplied Scopus Source ID is 21100446999. Authors should check the live Scopus profile when a university requires proof of current active coverage.

What are the ISSN and eISSN?

The print ISSN is 2049-8799 and the electronic ISSN is 2049-8802.

What is the current CiteScore?

Emerald reports a CiteScore of 4.8 for 2025. It also displays a 2026 CiteScore Tracker, which is updated monthly and therefore should not be confused with the completed-year CiteScore.

Does JGM have an Impact Factor?

Yes. Emerald displays a 2025 Journal Impact Factor of 2.0 and a 2025 five-year Impact Factor of 2.3. Metric years should always be stated.

What is the quartile of Journal of Global Mobility?

Wageningen University & Research Library reports Q2 for the 2024 Scopus metrics in both Business and International Management and Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. Quartiles can change by year and category, so verify the current value directly in Scopus for formal use.

What article types can authors submit?

Emerald's JGM submission classifications include Research Paper, Conceptual Paper and Literature Review. The aims and scope emphasise empirical work, rigorous theoretical development and focused comprehensive reviews.

What is the manuscript word limit?

Articles should be 5,000–10,000 words, including the structured abstract, references, all text in tables and figures, and appendices. Emerald asks authors to allow 280 words for each table or figure.

What abstract and keyword format is required?

A structured abstract is required with Purpose, Design/methodology/approach, Findings and Originality. The abstract section has a 250-word total maximum including keywords and article classification, and authors may provide up to 12 keywords.

What reference style does JGM use?

Emerald asks authors to use a recognised Harvard style and provides an Emerald Harvard guide. Authors should check every citation for completeness, accuracy and consistency.

What peer-review model does the journal use?

JGM uses double-anonymous peer review. Authors should remove identifying information from the manuscript, figures and captions and upload biographies or acknowledgements separately.

What is the acceptance rate and review time?

Emerald reports a 20.6% acceptance rate and 33 days to first decision for submissions between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. It reports 37 days from acceptance to publication, last updated April 2025. These are historical journal statistics, not guarantees for an individual paper.

Does Journal of Global Mobility charge an APC?

There is no submission fee for the conventional route. Gold open access is optional after acceptance and uses Emerald's hybrid-journal APC; Emerald lists the 2026 rate as £3,222 / US$4,351 / €3,710 plus VAT where applicable. Green self-archiving is also available without an APC.

Can Contentxprtz guarantee acceptance in JGM?

No. Contentxprtz can support editing, formatting, reference consistency, journal-alignment review and publication readiness, but editorial screening and peer-review decisions belong entirely to the journal. No ethical service can guarantee acceptance or publication.

Final perspective

Journal of Global Mobility is best understood as a specialist home for research in which the movement, management and experience of global employees is central to the scholarly contribution. Its scope is broader than traditional expatriate management, yet still focused enough that authors need to make the mobility dimension explicit. Its Scopus and Clarivate visibility, double-anonymous review, current acceptance statistics and detailed Emerald author instructions give researchers concrete information for evaluating the journal, but the decisive question remains manuscript fit.

If your study can explain what it adds to global-mobility knowledge, uses an appropriate design, complies with JGM's manuscript requirements and is submitted transparently through the official ScholarOne route, you will be in a stronger position to enter editorial review. That preparation does not guarantee publication, but it makes the submission easier to assess on the quality of the research itself.

Official and verification sources

• Emerald Publishing — Journal of Global Mobility: aims, scope, author guidelines, peer review, metrics and indexing
• Scopus — Source ID 21100446999
• Emerald Publishing — 2026 open-access routes and APCs
• TU Dresden Research Portal — 2025 Scopus SJR/SNIP and journal identifiers
• Wageningen University & Research Library — 2024 Scopus metrics and quartiles

Dr. Aanya Mehta

Research Writer & Professional Business Communicator

Dr. Aanya Mehta is a research-oriented writer and professional communicator with a strong focus on accuracy, clarity, and evidence-based insight. Her work combines analytical thinking with accessible writing, helping researchers interpret publication requirements and prepare clearer, ethically responsible academic manuscripts.