Remote work has made it possible for companies to hire top talent regardless of location. According to the World Economic Forum, there will be 92 million global remote roles by 2030. The tech sector, where talent shortages are especially acute, has benefited from hiring internationally, with Gartner reporting that 58% of organizations employ tech talent working remotely from other countries.
Beyond overcoming talent shortages, hiring globally allows companies to build diverse teams, optimize labor costs, and gain insight into local markets. But when the talent pool is as wide as the world, how do you decide where to focus your global talent strategy?
As remote hiring has ramped up, certain countries and regions have emerged as talent hot spots for specific roles. So, if you’re a People leader or C-suite executive wondering where to hire key team members to power your next phase of growth, below are the most popular countries for sourcing the most frequently hired remote roles.
Software engineering: North America, India, and Brazil
In our recent Global Hiring Trends and Impact Report, we analyzed our internal platform data and found that Software Engineer was the most frequently hired role on Oyster, representing 18% of new hires in 2024. Software engineers are in high demand around the world since they’re the ones who build the digital products and infrastructure that underpin the modern economy.
If you’re looking for engineers, developers, QA testers, DevOps, or anything in between, below are the top locations for hiring software talent.
- North America: Home to Silicon Valley and the world’s leading software companies, the United States boasts 4.4 million software developers, making it a prime destination for hiring highly skilled tech professionals. But high demand has also driven up salaries, so Canada offers an attractive alternative with a thriving tech ecosystem with hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as welcoming immigration policies, competitive exchange rates, and U.S.-aligned time zones.
- India: With its emphasis on technical education, India has established itself as a global hotspot for tech talent and is home to 5.2 million software engineers. The Indian tech sector is gearing up for significant growth in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and robotics.
- Brazil: Producing more software engineers annually than the U.S., Brazil has a booming startup scene bolstered by strong government support as well as over $2 billion in venture capital funding in 2024. Its time zone proximity and cultural alignment with the U.S. makes it a top hiring destination for developer talent.
Marketing and sales: US, UK, and the Philippines
Global talent is a strategic choice for marketing and sales roles since these team members help you gain valuable insights into local markets, cultural norms, and consumer behavior. If you’re expanding into new markets or serve clients around the world, having employees based in those regions will ensure that your campaigns and messaging resonate with your intended audience.
Looking for a marketing coordinator, brand manager, sales rep, or BDR? Below are some of the leading talent markets for hiring marketing and sales roles.
- United States: The U.S. is the epicenter of global marketing and sales innovation, with a vast and diverse talent pool across all marketing disciplines and sales methodologies. U.S. professionals have strong communication skills, experience in highly competitive and mature markets, and deep insight into Western business practices and consumer behavior.
- United Kingdom: The U.K. is known for creativity and innovation and is particularly strong in digital marketing, advertising, and branding. London is a global hub of creative agencies and multinational corporations, leading to a rich talent pool, while the U.K.’s geographical position makes it a good base for exploring European markets.
- The Philippines: With an outsourcing sector worth $38.7 billion, the Philippines offers a large pool of experienced candidates in telemarketing, B2B sales, and digital marketing. Filipino professionals have excellent English skills, a deep understanding of both Western and Asian cultures, and a strong grasp of U.S. business practices.
Data analytics: India, US, and Eastern Europe
Businesses depend on data and insights to make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge, so data analyst, data scientist, and data engineer roles are in high demand. Requiring strong technical skills, job openings for these roles are projected to grow 36% from 2023 to 2033.
For companies recruiting globally, here are the top regions to consider when hiring data professionals.
- India: Known for its emphasis on technical education, India offers a rapidly growing talent pool of data professionals proficient in tools like Python, BI, and SQL, as well as AI and machine learning. Data science is the fastest-growing field in India and is projected to be worth $3.38 billion by 2030.
- United States: The U.S. is the global leader in data science with market revenue projected to reach $43.5 billion by 2030. It has the largest and most mature market for data professionals thanks to its high concentration of tech giants, startups, and research institutions pushing the boundaries of data-driven insights.
- Eastern Europe: With a rapidly maturing tech sector, Eastern Europe is an attractive talent market to hire data professionals. Countries like Poland and Romania, for instance, offer candidates with deep technical expertise and a strong mathematical and engineering backgrounds.
Customer support: The Philippines, India, and Latin America
People in customer service and support roles are frontline workers who respond to and resolve customer issues as soon as they arise. This crucial function helps you keep your customers satisfied and loyal to your company in the long term.
Global companies frequently hire globally for customer support roles to ensure time zone coverage, service in multiple languages, and an understanding of regional and cultural nuances. If you’re looking for customer service or support professionals, the following talent markets have emerged as frontrunners.
- The Philippines: Widely known as a customer service powerhouse for global clients, the Philippines offers a deep talent pool with strong English proficiency, strong familiarity with Western markets, and a natural inclination towards hospitality and service. It’s a well-established hiring destination with excellent infrastructure and government support.
- India: Another leading destination for customer service, India offers a highly educated and tech-savvy talent pool that’s well suited to provide tech support for complex inquiries. For companies based in North America, India’s time zone helps ensure round-the-clock coverage for their customer support needs.
- Latin America: Thanks to their time zone alignment and cultural affinity with the U.S., Latin American countries like Colombia and Argentina are gaining in popularity for customer service and support roles, especially for companies targeting the North American market. Their language skills in English and Spanish are a major advantage for companies serving diverse customers in the U.S.
Additional considerations for choosing where to hire
While this article focuses on the countries and regions that have become known as top talent markets for specific types of roles, hiring managers and talent acquisition teams should also consider the following when deciding where to source talent for open roles.
- Time zone overlap: Does the role require real-time collaboration, or can it be performed autonomously and asynchronously?
- Language proficiency: Does the role require strong communication skills in English and/or other languages?
- Labor costs: What’s your budget for the role, and where can you hire based on your budget?
- Cultural fit: For roles that are client-facing or highly collaborative, what kind of cultural fit do you need to ensure success?
Thinking through these questions will help you narrow down the best talent markets to source candidates for specific roles.
Build your global team with Oyster
Now that you know where to hire for key roles, you’ll need a partner to help you compliantly onboard your new team members. That’s where Oyster comes in—no need to research labor laws or set up local entities.
By partnering with Oyster’s EOR service, you can compliantly hire, pay, and manage full-time employees in 120+ countries worldwide. Oyster ensures compliance throughout the employee life cycle, from contracts and onboarding to compliance, payroll, and benefits. We handle the employment logistics so you can focus on your business.
Book a personalized consultation to learn how Oyster can transform your talent strategy.
About Oyster
Oyster is a global employment platform designed to enable visionary HR leaders to find, engage, pay, manage, develop, and take care of a thriving distributed workforce. Oyster lets growing companies give valued international team members the experience they deserve, without the usual headaches and expense.
Oyster enables hiring anywhere in the world—with reliable, compliant payroll, and great local benefits and perks.
