A company’s information technology (IT) team is integral to successful business operations. IT facilitates knowledge sharing, enables remote working, and keeps data safe. If you plan to grow your company internationally, one of the first departments you should recruit for is IT.
Global IT recruiting creates a solid technological foundation for your company. Some countries have more tech professionals than others, so expanding your search to the top countries in the IT industry can unlock a diverse talent pool for your company.
Why develop a global IT recruiting strategy?
Technology regulations vary around the world, and you’ll need to stay up to date with the rules and requirements in each region you recruit in. Hiring tech professionals that are based in the countries you want to expand to can help your business in the following ways:
- More support: International IT recruitment grants your company access to around-the-clock technology support. The IT team in one part of the world can uphold your company’s technology infrastructure while team members in other regions are off the clock. Having tech teams located internationally means someone will always be available to provide support or troubleshoot concerns, no matter the time.
- Enhanced security: A global IT recruiting strategy can also make your company more secure. A team based in one country can ensure that the processes implemented by a team located in another region meet security requirements. The larger your company’s tech team, the more people there will be to detect any security gaps or concerns, allowing you to take action quickly.
- Cost efficiency: Your expenses may decrease if you hire international IT team members from emerging markets. These regions often have a lower cost of living compared to established IT hubs, making it more cost-effective to recruit skilled professionals. Hiring internationally also saves your company the expense of relocating employees to the country you plan to grow in.
- Varied technology expertise: IT employees based internationally might have tech expertise you cannot find in your home country. Certain software platforms or devices might be more popular in other parts of the world. When you hire globally, you can take advantage of a broader knowledge base and increased skill sets.
The best countries for hiring IT professionals
If your company wants to go global by hiring IT professionals, the first step is to identify which countries have the largest pool of technology professionals and how the tech industry is evolving in each region, so you can decide if hiring in those markets will suit your company’s budget.
The top 10 countries in the IT industry are:
1. The U.S.
The IT sector in the U.S. is large and expected to grow in the years to come. Opportunities for tech professionals are projected to grow 13% by 2030, which is faster than the growth estimations for any other occupation.
IT employees in the U.S. work in a variety of positions, including computer support and computer programming. Around 844,600 people work as computer support specialists, 199,400 people are web developers, and 141,200 people work as information security analysts.
Salaries for tech employees in the U.S. vary greatly based on the role and seniority level. Overall, the median annual salary for the entire IT industry in the U.S. is USD 97,430 (2021), more than twice the median annual salary for all other occupations.
2. Germany
Germany has one of the healthiest economies in Europe and a high employment rate. In April 2022, more than 45 million people in Germany were employed.
The country is on its way to becoming a particularly attractive area for tech employees. Germany’s technology industry has an innovator rate of 85%. It is also a major driver of the country’s economy. The tech industry in Germany produces a turnover worth EUR 178 billion.
Tech employees are in high demand in Germany, which means IT professionals have significant leverage when it comes to negotiating a competitive salary. The country estimates that there are around 96,000 vacant positions in IT. IT security specialists, software developers, data scientists, and application support specialists are in the highest demand.
3. Finland
Finland is another European country with a high number of workers in the tech sector. It also has a reputation for being tech-forward and innovative. The country is the birthplace of Linux and the first internet browser.
About 7.6% of the workforce in Finland was employed in information and communication technology (ICT) in 2022. The tech sector in Finland has also had the largest number of job openings in recent years, making it an attractive location for tech employees who want to participate in the country’s renowned work-life balance culture.
Businesses in Finland are known for their digital readiness, with high levels of digitization in private and public spheres. Many Finland-based businesses, including startups, focus on digitization, making IT valuable and technology use widespread throughout the country. Those qualities contribute to a wide applicant pool of technologically capable individuals.
4. Singapore
The tech industry in Singapore is experiencing a boom and has many open positions for IT employees. As more companies expand to Singapore, the demand for tech employees is only expected to increase. It’s estimated that the country will need 1.2 million additional tech employees to meet demand by 2025.
Many individuals who work in the industry in Singapore are being selective about the interviews they accept and the offers they consider. Some are rejecting job offers due to low pay or poor benefits packages. If your company decides to recruit in Singapore, know there is ample talent there, and a competitive offer will be essential.
5. Canada
Canada has been dubbed the Silicon Valley North, with major tech companies, such as Meta, announcing plans to hire throughout the country.
At the end of 2021, the tech industry in Canada employed more than 1.2 million individuals. By 2027, various IT occupations are expected to grow:
- Database analysts and administrators: 22%
- Systems analysts: 17%
- Software engineers: 16%
- User support technicians: 15%
6. Japan
The employment rate in Japan was 60.9% in April 2022. The number of employed people in Japan is expected to trend upward in the coming years.
The IT market end-user spending in Japan is expected to grow USD 139 billion by 2024. For Japan to continue to be an innovative country, it needs to create and fill tech positions to meet that anticipated demand.
To ensure the local tech workforce continues to keep up with the country’s need for inventive solutions, the government has been actively promoting the inclusion of more women in tech roles.
7. The Netherlands
The tech sector in the Netherlands is growing quickly, leading to an increased demand for tech employees in the country. Some areas, such as Amsterdam, are seeing particularly high demand. The country’s Central Bureau of Statistics estimates there are 133 available jobs for every 100 people seeking work.
In 2021, approximately 542,000 individuals worked in IT. To attract more talent to the Netherlands, the country has created a platform welcoming professionals from other parts of the world. With more international talent, the Netherlands can experience a tech boom on par with those seen in Silicon Valley and other tech-focused areas.
8. The UK
One-tenth of the vacant positions in the UK are in IT. All in all, the tech sector in the UK is growing at a rate that’s 2.5% faster than the national average.
Nearly three million individuals work in the tech sector in the UK, earning a median annual salary of GBP 32,000. Tech companies that operate in the UK include Amazon, Meta, and Google, though tech startups and smaller enterprises are also taking over this industry.
9. New Zealand
The tech industry in New Zealand makes up 8% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employed 5% of the 2.84 million working individuals in 2022. There are more than 20,000 technology companies operating in New Zealand, including many small businesses. Among them, they employ around 114,000 New Zealand-based employees.
The ongoing demand for IT employees in the country means tech roles tend to have some of the highest salaries in New Zealand. To meet the demand of the sector, the country introduced a border exception scheme in 2022 in an effort to attract highly skilled global employees.
10. Australia
One out of every 16 employees in Australia works in the tech industry. The country’s tech sector is the 7th largest in Australia, employing more than 861,000 people. The country wants to increase the number of employees to 1.2 million by 2030, but many industry insiders say that figure is too low.
Jobs in technology are located across the country, but the areas around Melbourne and Sydney have the greatest concentrations of tech employees. Some of the most common IT jobs in Australia include user experience designer, software developer, and data scientist.
Tips for international IT recruitment
Hiring internationally widens the talent pool available to your company, making you more likely to find candidates who are a match for the skills you need. To find those potential applicants, follow these tips for recruitment:
- Clearly define the position: There are many roles within the IT sector. Some require more specialized skills than others. Some roles have different titles depending on the country. To avoid confusion and ensure you get applications from the most qualified candidates, be clear and specific about what roles your company is hiring for.
- Identify the skills you need most: The job description is a great recruiting tool, as it lets candidates know exactly what the role involves. Before creating a job description, make a list of the skills most needed for the role, such as knowledge of a particular programming language or customer service skills. Along with identifying the necessary skills, consider whether the candidate needs to have a certain education background or certifications.
- Research the country: Familiarize yourself with workplace culture in the country. Understand what locations have more employees than job openings to improve your chances of finding the right fit for the role.
- Expand your search: When you have particular countries in mind to grow your team, search local job boards or training programs to find more qualified candidates. The more potential employees you discover, the larger the applicant pool you can cultivate.
- Verify credentials: You might never meet the candidates you hire face to face. Be diligent when vetting potential hires. Follow up with references and reach out to any schools or training programs they have listed on their resumes (to the extent allowed under local laws). You want to hire candidates with the background and experience they claim to have.
- Develop a consistent process: Once you have decided to hire international candidates, be consistent. Clearly define the paperwork you need from candidates for each position before hiring, and provide the training timeline once they begin working for your company.
- Set expectations: Since your international IT team may work remotely and across time zones, develop a clear set of rules and expectations. Some areas to focus on include working hours, requesting time off, and who to contact if there is an issue with any of your company’s platforms.
Trust G-P for global IT recruitment.
If your company is ready to start hiring international IT workers, G-P has the technology and expertise to support you. An extension of our #1 Global Growth Platform™, G-P Meridian Recruit™ makes it fast and simple to find your ideal talent, based on your unique hiring needs, anywhere in the world. View available talent in hubs around the world and track candidate matching status and sourcing progress with ease — all with one intuitive platform.
With G-P, you can start building your international tech team in minutes, not months, without setting up a new entity. Request a proposal today to learn more.