The benefits of global hiring are becoming more and more apparent. By tapping into talent pools around the world, employers gain access to fresh perspectives and new ideas. They can cut back on costs, bring in new skills, and broaden their market. There are a ton of benefits to opening up your borders and hiring global remote talent.
There’s also value in looking beyond the usual talent hotspots. Countries all over the world are home to skilled professionals with a lot to offer. So, if you’re in search of global remote talent, don’t limit yourself. Try to get off the beaten track and look to these underrated countries to hire from. Now, let’s get into what each country has to offer.
Uruguay
Uruguay is fast becoming a tech hub in South America, commonly referred to as the "Silicon Valley of South America." So, if you’re looking to add skilled tech professionals to your team, Uruguay might hold the answer. With 63 fintech companies and a growing tech startup scene, it's becoming a leading tech hub in South America.
Burgeoning Fintech Scene
Uruguay might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of fintech, but this small South American nation is making strides. Fueled by a combination of supportive regulations, a skilled workforce, and a growing tech ecosystem, Uruguay's fintech sector is gaining momentum.
In fact, According to the 2021 Global Fintech Rankings, Montevideo is ranked as the second-fastest growing fintech city in the world, both in South America and globally at 44th place.
And, at the heart of Uruguay’s burgeoning fintech scene is a pool of highly skilled tech professionals. Just look at what dLocal did. In 2016, four graduates from Uruguay's main private university launched the payment company dLocal. Today, these alumni are the most successful entrepreneurs in their country's history, with a combined worth of $10 billion.
Access to Top-Tier Education
When you hire in Uruguay, you can feel confident that you’re hiring skilled, well-educated professionals. Uruguay boasts a well-educated workforce thanks to its solid education system.
Education is mandatory and free from primary to university levels, contributing to a high literacy rate comparable to developed nations. Montevideo serves as the hub for higher education in Uruguay, with institutions like Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Universidad del Trabajo (UTU), Universidad Tecnológica (UTEC), as well as research centers like Centro de Ensayos de Software (CES) and Centro ICT4V.
As a result of the country’s free and accessible education system, 76% of IT professionals have a university degree. So, when you hire in Uruguay, you're engaging with a workforce of skilled and well-educated professionals.
Uruguay is also home to a multilingual population, which has been proven to be beneficial for business. 98% of IT professionals in Uruguay are proficient in English, and 51% are proficient in Portuguese. Along with strong cognitive abilities, multilingual workers are known to boost customer satisfaction and open companies up to more business opportunities, among other benefits.
Indonesia
Often when companies hire from Asia, they look to countries like India, China, and the Phillippines. As a result, Indonesia is one of the most underrated countries to hire in. When in fact, Indonesia is home to a burgeoning tech scene and a pool of young, skilled professionals up for a challenge.
Young Professionals
As of 2022, 52% of Indonesia's population were between the ages of 18 and 39 years old.
This is significant as Indonesia is also one of the world's most populous countries, with close to 280 million people.
You might be wondering - how does this benefit me, as an employer? Well, there are proven benefits to hiring young people. Along with a general sense of enthusiasm, young people tend to be tech-savvy and offer fresh perspectives. This is especially important nowadays when companies need to approach innovative ways of doing things.
So, if you’re interested in hiring skilled workers who are up for a challenge, you might want to consider Indonesia. You gain access to a huge talent pool filled with bright-eyed professionals with a lot to offer.
Innovative Minds
The entrepreneurial spirit of Indonesia’s people is evident in the country’s up-and-coming tech scene. The country is building a thriving start-up scene, boasting over ten unicorns, including Blibli, Bukalapak, Traveloka, and GoTo. It’s on its way to rivaling other tech ecosystems within the Asia Pacific region.
This is good news for employers. Hiring professionals from a country with innovation at the forefront means you gain access to a talent pool that’s ready to bring in fresh perspectives and new ideas.
Though Indonesia is still in its early stages of technological growth, its population is by no means complacent. This is evident in the innovative thinking of its tech professionals, and the potential of its tech ecosystem. Jakarta, its capital city, comes in third on Startup Genome's 2021 "Emerging Ecosystems,". Its startup scene has a combined valuation of USD 34 billion.
Consider hiring in Indonesia to tap into this potential. Its population of young professionals is ready for a challenge, and embracing technological innovation more and more.
Strategic Location
Did you know that 35% of decision-makers noted an improvement in market competitiveness by expanding their reach with global remote hiring? Meaning, that the countries you hire from can have an impact on the markets you access.
By hiring skilled professionals from Indonesia, you can gain insight into the region's potential. The country lies in a strategic position in Southeast Asia, which can offer
a unique opportunity for companies to expand into the Asia-Pacific.
So, you might want to consider how hiring in Indonesia could help you strengthen your market position and tap into a substantial consumer base. To put this in perspective, Southeast Asia's trade volume is about one-third of the United States. Indonesia alone is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Hiring in Indonesia can offer an insider understanding of the market dynamics at play in this region.
Colombia
Colombia has a lot to offer employers, like a skilled workforce with an innovative mindset and the opportunity to cut costs without compromising on quality.
Dynamic Tech Environment
Colombia is making waves in the tech world, thanks to its strong economic growth, state support, and increased investments. This surge has positioned the country as a leader in South American technological innovation. Amidst this progress, Colombia boasts a pool of local tech talent.
Colombia's tech landscape has garnered attention from major players like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. This exposure to tech giants offers Colombian professionals the chance to learn from global leaders, equipping them with valuable insights and hands-on experience that can be applied to their teams.
Culture of Innovation
Tech professionals in Colombia are flourishing within the vibrant startup ecosystem. Government efforts, including R&D tax incentives and tech investments, have bolstered this environment. Billions in VC funding have flooded the tech scene, fostering the growth of startups and providing tech professionals with cutting-edge skills.
Hiring in a country with such a thriving startup scene offers companies a fresh influx of innovative, adaptable, and tech-savvy professionals. Workers from Colombia bring diverse skill sets and an entrepreneurial mindset to the table. Their experience working for forward-thinking start-ups can enhance your teams' agility and capacity to drive growth. Their connections and innovative outlook contribute to a more competitive and forward-thinking organizational culture.
Cost-Effective
Colombia also provides a cost advantage for hiring remote talent. It has a favorable exchange rate and lower cost of living. This makes it a cost-effective choice for businesses looking for skilled professionals. By opting for Colombian talent, you can access a skilled workforce without overspending, maintaining quality while being budget-conscious.
The Netherlands
If you’re interested in hiring skilled professionals, consider the Netherlands. It has a lot to offer employers, such as a highly educated workforce, a strong tech ecosystem, and a culture of innovation. Let’s get into it.
Access to Top Tier Education
Universities in the Netherlands are globally recognized for their exceptional standards in teaching and research. In fact, the Netherlands is ranked as the third-most educated country in the world by the World Economic Forum.
This is largely due to how accessible education is in the Netherlands. With a range of free universities and scholarships, offering its population quality education is a top priority in the Netherlands. All 13 state-funded Dutch universities perform well in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Thriving Tech Scene
The Netherlands boasts a thriving tech scene. With a tech-savvy workforce, excellent digital infrastructure, government support for innovation, and a culture of embracing new digital applications, The Netherlands has a deep talent pool of tech professionals.
The country's robust digital connectivity, highlighted by a world-ranking No. 2 position for online connectivity and advanced networks like the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX), ensures seamless digital connections for companies.
Work-Life Balance
Along with being well-educated, professionals in the Netherlands also have a strong understanding of work-life balance. Though they’re known for working hard, Dutch professionals also know how to wind down.
There is a clear distinction between their personal and work lives, which has a range of benefits for employers. It can help boost productivity, improve employee satisfaction, and lead to high retention rates.
Happy People
The Netherlands is known to produce happy people. Much of this can be attributed to the country’s quality of living, which is ranked the highest worldwide. And, hiring happy employees has a ton of proven benefits.
Evidence shows that happy employees can be up to 20% more productive. with an even more significant, 37% boost in sales performance, particularly among sales teams.
South Africa
South Africa boasts a large labor market with a population of over 60 million. The country also has a strong pipeline of talent, with 60,000 potential employees entering the workforce per year. Companies like Amazon recognize this potential, with plans to hire thousands for customer support roles.
English-Speaking
A benefit of hiring South Africans is their widespread proficiency in English. As one of the country's official languages, English fluency is common among the workforce. This simplifies international outsourcing and allows businesses to hire capable English-speaking team members without significant cost.
IT Skills
South Africa offers a wealth of skilled professionals in the IT sector, encompassing cloud servers, big data analytics, cybersecurity, programming, and artificial intelligence, among others. This availability of qualified staff puts South Africa on the map as a prime outsourcing destination.
Productivity
Studies have shown that South African workers outperform their counterparts in traditional outsourcing destinations. They exhibit higher productivity in key performance indicators such as average handling time, response time, communication time, and speed to answer. Their dedication and engagement translate into well-performing and committed team members.
Cost-Effectiveness
The financial advantages of outsourcing staff from South Africa are compelling. Employers can secure highly qualified South African candidates at a fraction of the cost compared to hiring American or British citizens with similar qualifications. With financial gain and expense reduction as core outsourcing objectives, companies can save up to 50% on staff costs by hiring in South Africa.
Things to Consider When Hiring Abroad
No matter where you decide to hire, you'll need to consider the local laws before jumping in. Every country has its own set of labor laws that companies must abide by when hiring internationally. You will likely also need a legal entity to hire in a location outside of your operational base.
Here are some of the things to look out for when planning your global hiring strategy.
- Employment contracts: Understand how to draft a local employment agreement and the things it should include. An employment contract is a legally binding document, so it's crucial to understand exactly what it means. Also, review the types of contracts that are possible where you are hiring. For example, can you offer full-time employees fixed-term contracts or must they have indefinite contracts? If you can't offer a fixed-term contract, then are there probation periods? What kind of agreement do you need to sign with self-employed individuals? Keep these possible limitations in mind when hiring abroad.
- Payroll: While it's true that it's often cheaper to hire abroad, you need to understand the minimum wage and social security contributions your employees are entitled to. Besides the employee's salary, you should consider overtime pay and severance pay. You'll also need to make legally mandated social security contributions and withhold income tax from your employee's gross salary. Keep in mind that a minimum wage doesn't equal the average salary, so make sure to calculate your employee's annual salary correctly and fairly.
- Paid leave: Most countries' local laws will also mandate public holidays and annual leave for employees. The amount of paid holidays can vary greatly. In addition to PTO, also consider other leave, such as paid paternity leave and maternity leave, sick leave and sick pay, as well as other entitlements.
- Termination: Check how to dismiss an employee in the country you are hiring from. While this can be an uncomfortable conversation, it's important to understand your employer's obligations. For example, what constitutes just cause? Are employees entitled to severance payments? There are also likely probationary periods and a statutory notice period in place, so keep those in mind when hiring abroad.
Wrapping up
So, the next time you need to hire global remote talent, don't follow the crowd. Consider looking to these countries for skilled professionals.
And, reach out to Borderless AI if you need support along the way. Global hiring can be a headache, so let us make the process easier for you. Our team of professionals and intuitive platform will walk you through the process of hiring, onboarding, and managing your new team members.
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Disclaimer
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