Welcome to RemoLabs! This research series covers insights from anonymized customer data using RemoFirst's Employer of Record platform, along with surveys and third-party market research. We then share what we find to help you hire smarter and navigate global expansion. Subscribe here to get the latest trends and more in your inbox.

At RemoFirst, we partner with thousands of companies around the globe to help them build and manage their international teams. 

Over the past year, one major trend stood out: the United States emerged as the #1 choice for global companies hiring through our platform.

Given the U.S.’s deep talent pool, industry leadership in various sectors, and status as a prime market for growth, this didn’t come as a shock to our team.

But it sparked a new question for us: Where are U.S.-based companies turning to find talent when they go global, and why?

We dug into the data to find out.

Top Countries Where Our Customers Focused Their Hiring Efforts

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1. Canada 🇨🇦

Hiring talent in Canada provides U.S. companies with a nearshore advantage that combines convenience, quality, and expansion opportunities. 

The two countries share time zones, language, and strong economic ties through the USMCA trade agreement, making collaboration seamless. 

Canada's workforce is among the most educated in the world, and its booming tech hubs — such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver — offer a strong bench of candidates across engineering, design, and operations.

In addition to talent quality, cost-efficiency is a major draw. Salaries in Canada are generally lower than in major U.S. cities. Canada’s universal healthcare system also reduces the need for expensive employer-sponsored insurance, saving employers quite a lot of cash.

These factors make Canada a low-risk, high-return option for U.S. companies looking to scale globally.

2. United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Hiring talent in the United Kingdom offers U.S. companies access to a mature, English-speaking workforce with deep expertise across finance, tech, media, and healthcare industries. 

The U.K. is a global business hub with strong intellectual property protections, a familiar legal framework, and a high ease of doing business. 

For U.S. companies expanding into EMEA or seeking around-the-clock operations, U.K.-based employees provide excellent coverage during non-U.S. working hours. Moreover, the U.K. has a strong remote and hybrid work culture, which supports flexible, scalable employment.

With world-class universities, highly skilled professionals, and favorable tax treatment for foreign companies, the U.K. is an attractive hiring choice. 

While wages are comparable to U.S. averages in some fields, benefits like public healthcare and statutory paid leave can reduce employer costs. 

Additionally, cities like Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham offer access to top talent at lower costs than London, making regional hiring even more efficient.

3. Philippines 🇵🇭

Hiring talent in the Philippines offers U.S. companies a cost-effective, highly skilled workforce with strong English proficiency and cultural alignment. 

The country has long been a business process outsourcing (BPO) leader, with deep expertise in customer service, administrative support, IT, and finance. 

English is an official language, and the education system is modeled closely on the U.S., making communication and training relatively seamless. 

Additionally, the Philippines has many college-educated professionals and a strong service-oriented culture, ideal for remote teams and client-facing roles.

From a financial standpoint, labor costs in the Philippines are significantly lower than in the U.S., often by up to 70%, while maintaining high work quality and productivity. 

With a young population, increasing digital connectivity, and a growing remote work infrastructure, the Philippines is a strategic choice for U.S. companies looking to scale operations efficiently, reliably, and affordably.

4. India 🇮🇳

Hiring talent in India gives U.S. companies access to one of the world’s largest, most skilled, and cost-efficient labor markets. India is a global leader in IT services, software development, data analytics, and customer support, with a deep bench of technical talent. 

The country's long history of working with U.S. and European companies has fostered strong cross-cultural communication skills and process maturity. 

Many Indian professionals are fluent in English, and the workforce is highly educated, especially in STEM fields, making it an ideal destination for scaling engineering, back-office, and support teams.

India also offers significant cost advantages, with wages often 50-70% lower than U.S. equivalents, and a large population of professionals available for flexible or 24/7 shifts. 

With robust digital infrastructure, a fast-growing remote work culture, and government incentives for global outsourcing, India remains one of the most strategic locations for building long-term, scalable offshore teams.

5. Germany 🇩🇪

Hiring talent in Germany offers U.S. companies a strategic foothold in the heart of Europe, with access to a highly skilled, disciplined, and innovation-driven workforce. 

As Europe's largest economy, Germany is a hub for industries such as automotive, engineering, fintech, manufacturing, and AI. 

The country has strong labor protections, high education standards, and a reputation for quality and efficiency, making it ideal for complex, high-value work. 

English proficiency is high, especially among professionals in tech and business sectors, and German employees are accustomed to working with international teams.

For U.S. companies seeking to expand into the European Union or serve customers in EMEA, Germany provides both talent and a stable regulatory environment, strong IP protections, and access to a massive single market. 

With cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg offering a skilled workforce and well-developed infrastructure, Germany is a reliable destination for building regional or global teams.

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6. Mexico 🇲🇽

Close proximity to the U.S., cost advantages, and a growing tech scene make Mexico an attractive option for nearshore hiring. Many professionals are bilingual and familiar with U.S. business norms.

Hiring talent in Mexico offers U.S. companies a powerful combination of geographic proximity, cultural compatibility, cost efficiency, and a growing number of skilled professionals. As part of the USMCA trade agreement, Mexico provides easier legal and tax frameworks for cross-border business collaboration. 

With shared or overlapping time zones, Mexican employees can work in real-time with U.S. teams, making communication, collaboration, and productivity more seamless than in traditional offshore markets. Additionally, many professionals — especially in tech, finance, and customer support — are bilingual and familiar with U.S. business practices.

Mexico also offers significant cost advantages. Salaries are generally 40-60% lower than in the U.S., while the country continues to invest in higher education, particularly in engineering, IT, and design. 

Tech hubs like Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City are emerging as key talent centers, with reliable infrastructure and strong remote work culture. Mexico is a strategic and scalable option for companies looking to nearshore talent without compromising on quality.

7. Colombia 🇨🇴

Hiring talent in Colombia gives U.S. companies a nearshore advantage with access to a growing, educated, and cost-effective workforce in the U.S.-aligned time zone. 

Colombia has become a rising player in the tech, customer service, and creative industries, with major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali developing strong ecosystems for remote work and outsourcing. 

With cultural alignment, increasing English proficiency, and a strong work ethic, Colombian professionals are well-positioned to integrate smoothly into the U.S.-based teams. 

The country also benefits from strong economic ties with the U.S. through the U.S.–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which simplifies business operations and compliance.

From a financial standpoint, Colombia offers significant labor cost savings — often 50-70% lower than U.S. equivalents — while maintaining a high level of service quality. 

The country’s median age is under 32, contributing to a young, tech-savvy workforce, and its growing emphasis on higher education and bilingual skills makes it a compelling choice for companies scaling customer-facing, technical, or administrative roles.

8. France 🇫🇷

Hiring talent in France gives U.S. companies access to a highly educated, innovative, and globally minded workforce in one of the world’s largest economies. 

France is a hub for industries like aerospace, AI, luxury goods, finance, and cleantech, with a strong emphasis on R&D and design. 

The country boasts top-tier universities and "Grandes Écoles" that produce world-class engineers, designers, and business leaders. English proficiency is strong among professionals in urban centers, and many are experienced working with international teams.

From a business perspective, France offers strategic access to the European Union’s single market, strong labor protections, and robust digital infrastructure. 

While average wages and employer costs are higher than some other markets, the tradeoff is access to top-tier talent, exceptional productivity, and one of the world’s most innovation-driven economies — ideal for companies looking to build or expand in Europe.

9. Spain 🇪🇸

Hiring talent in Spain offers U.S. companies a compelling mix of skilled professionals, competitive labor costs, and a strong cultural alignment with international business practices. 

Spain has emerged as a growing hub for tech, customer support, digital marketing, and finance, with cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia attracting local and international talent. 

English proficiency is increasing, especially among younger professionals and in the tech sector, and many Spanish employees are accustomed to working with distributed global teams.

Spain also benefits from lower labor costs than many Western European countries, making it an attractive nearshore option for both EMEA and global operations. 

Its EU membership, modern infrastructure, and business-friendly incentives — particularly for startups and digital companies — make it a strategic location for hiring high-quality remote or hybrid talent within a well-regulated and stable environment.

10. Netherlands 🇳🇱

Hiring talent in the Netherlands offers U.S. companies access to one of Europe’s most international, innovative, and business-friendly workforces. 

Known for its strong English proficiency, excellent infrastructure, and tech-forward mindset, the Netherlands is a strategic hub for companies looking to expand into Europe. 

The country is home to a large number of multinational headquarters and boasts expertise in tech, logistics, fintech, clean energy, and life sciences. 

Dutch professionals are well-versed in working with global teams, and the country’s transparent labor laws and efficient bureaucracy make hiring and compliance more straightforward than in many neighboring nations.

Though salaries in the Netherlands are higher than in Eastern or Southern Europe, the high productivity, talent density, and regulatory clarity offer excellent value for U.S. employers building long-term, high-impact teams. 

Cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven are not only centers of innovation but also magnets for international talent.

Why U.S. Companies Should Hire Global Talent

While hiring local talent is always valuable, we also believe great talent knows no borders. 

The ability to hire globally opens up exciting opportunities for companies seeking specialized skills and for professionals looking to work with innovative teams, wherever they are.

We’re seeing more global companies hiring in the U.S., and more U.S. businesses tapping into talent abroad. Whether you’re a business owner, hiring manager, or recruiter, now might be the right time to expand your search and discover what global hiring can do for your team.

Here are a few key benefits to employing global talent: 

1. Access to a broader and more diverse talent pool

• Hiring globally allows companies to find highly skilled professionals who may not be available in their local market.
  
  
• It enables access to niche or in-demand skill sets, especially in tech, engineering, and multilingual roles.
  
  
• Diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives and innovation to problem-solving and product development.
  
  

2. Cost Efficiency and Operational Savings

• Hiring talent in other regions can reduce salary and overhead expenses without compromising quality. This can be an excellent option for startups or small businesses operating lean.
  
  
• Companies can scale faster by reallocating employment and salary savings to product development, sales, or marketing.
  
  
• Benefits and tax obligations are often more flexible through EOR solutions like RemoFirst.
  
  

3. Business Continuity and 24/7 Productivity

• Distributed teams across time zones allow for round-the-clock operations. This is ideal for customer support, DevOps, or global product teams.
  
  
• It reduces downtime and boosts responsiveness, especially when serving customers or managing operations across global markets.

4. Easier Market Expansion

• Hiring local employees in new regions offers better customer behavior, regulations, and cultural knowledge.
  
  
• Global hires can serve as an entry point for global expansion and localization strategies.
  
  
• It helps build brand awareness, business momentum, and trust in target regions.
  
  

5. Increased Employee Retention and Engagement

• Offering remote and international opportunities helps attract candidates who value flexibility and global collaboration.
  
  
• Companies that embrace remote-first cultures often see higher satisfaction and lower attrition.
  
  
• A diverse and empowered team often leads to a stronger company culture and employer brand.

About This Data

Our data is anonymized from customer insights and trends of what local markets they are and/or have been focused on hiring in. While this does not cover a massive sample, this is collected among thousands of companies globally who are finding and open to talent based in countries around the world. 

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