The 2020 pivot to remote work opened up doors of opportunity for tech workers and companies alike: no longer tethered to the office, remote workers found they could work anywhere there was WiFi. Conversely, tech companies discovered a global talent pool of highly qualified workers. In an age of increased connectivity, is a global talent force the way of the future?
In July and August 2024, we surveyed over 1,000 American tech workers for their thoughts on where the industry is heading, who they are hiring, and how they feel about it.
Embracing a Multinational Workforce
In 2024, the work you do matters more than where you do it. Tech companies are embracing a philosophy of ‘borderless talent,’ or prioritizing the best candidates for positions over exclusively hiring domestically-based workers. This can mean outsourcing or nearshoring an entire workforce, as well as working extensively with digital nomads or remote workers who shift their location regularly.
According to 3 in 4 tech workers, borderless talent is the industry's future. As it is, 73% already work with international co-workers. They cite the benefits of lower costs, extended business operations, and the simple fact that their global counterparts are “great additions to the team.” Company leadership agrees: 77% of workers said their companies will continue hiring internationally at the same rate, and 1 in 10 say their companies will increase their rate of global hiring in the next five years.
Challenges that come with international co-workers include time zone difficulties, linguistic differences, cultural differences, and skill differentials. Additionally, 13% of tech workers fear their global co-workers will eventually replace them.
78% also think companies embracing an international workforce will have a competitive advantage in the tech industry. Given that 72% say talent matters more than location, the onus is on tech companies to find this talent around the globe. Another major takeaway is that tech workers don’t feel threatened by a global talent pool: over 4 in 5 aren’t worried about losing their jobs to international workers.
30% of tech workers work with digital nomads, or remote workers who travel internationally and work while doing so. Americans aren’t unwilling to travel for work, either: 54% said they’d move abroad for work. Paycheck patriotism isn’t an incentive, either: 86% of tech workers are willing to work for a foreign employer, regardless of location.
International Talent Benefits and Challenges
What makes borderless talent such a winning strategy? 85% of tech workers say international talent fills skill gaps in the industry, and 88% think a multinational talent force better serves a global market. As such, it’s no surprise that over 4 in 5 say their global co-workers are treated equally.
When we surveyed tech workers on their international counterparts, they noted that over 3 in 5 are long-term employees, while just over a third are contract-based. Most provide IT support, software development, data management, customer service support, and project management work streams within their companies.
Most global co-workers come from Europe, followed by Canada, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Given that one of the biggest challenges of a multinational workforce is managing time zone differences, Latin America can be an appealing option (we know a thing or two about remote work in LatAm!).
Methodology & Fair Use
In July and August 2024, we surveyed 1,010 tech workers around the U.S. on their thoughts on international co-workers and broad hiring trends in the tech industry. 48% were women, 50% were men, and 2% were either non-binary or chose not to answer. Ages ranged from 18-77 with an average age of 38.
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Fair Use
When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing Howdy.com.
