Why hire international talent from LATAM for the tech sector

Human talent is universal. That’s why, in such a competitive tech market as the current one, finding the most suitable professional is more a matter of strategy than geography. Despite this, many companies continue to rely on outdated selection models, characterized by slow processes, the choice of generic profiles, and a constant turnover that tends to exhaust their resources.

In the face of this immobility, in recent years, the path of hiring international talent alongside offshoring in Latin America (LATAM) has gained ground. The region has experienced significant technological development in recent years, which, combined with other important operational and organizational advantages, has begun to give prominence to its IT professionals.

In fact, at lateam, we believe that this model goes far beyond the main benefit it has always been associated with, that of simple cost reduction. In this article, we will explain the reasons.

The challenge of tech talent has no borders

The scarcity of IT talent has recently become a global problem. The unstoppable digital transformation, spurred by the emergence of artificial intelligence, has rapidly increased the demand for specialized profiles that drive and manage change efficiently. Thus, according to the ‘Talent Report’ of 2026 conducted by ManpowerGroup, 73% of tech organizations worldwide are having trouble filling their vacancies.

This figure is very similar to the European average (74%), while in Spain it even rises to 78%. Moreover, in the case of Spain, of this percentage, 61% of companies report having “some difficulties” to operate normally, while 17% acknowledge “many difficulties”. The perception is that these figures could continue to grow in the short term, as for the first time in the history of this report, AI skills lead the ranking of the most difficult technical skills to find.

What emerges from this is that we are currently at a point where the speed of technological innovation has surpassed society's ability to train human talent. This gap between the needs of organizations and the availability of qualified professionals highlights the need to rethink the training approach, adapting the educational system to the new skills demanded by the digital environment. However, this is a structural transformation that will require time. Just what many companies do not have.

Why hire international talent in the IT sector

Technological transformation is happening now, and companies are aware that every second counts. Success does not wait for the enormous existing competitiveness, so limiting the search to the local area unnecessarily reduces the chances of finding the right person. Mainly because the numbers do not add up: in Spain, there are currently more vacant IT positions than qualified professionals to fill them.

So all roads lead to the same solution: hiring international talent. By going beyond their borders, companies access a much broader and diverse market, making it easier to incorporate profiles with the specific skills their projects require. Additionally, models like offshoring provide additional advantages, such as:

Greater capacity to scale teams according to business needs.

Operational flexibility.

Cost optimization without sacrificing talent quality.

LATAM: the present and future of tech talent

From the perspective of organizations in Europe and the United States, LATAM is gaining enormous appeal as a ‘source’ of tech talent. Prestigious media such as Forbes have already begun to echo this boom, driven by an increase in educational investment in the region —which rose from 3.9% of GDP in 2000 to 4.5% in 2017— and by a rapid process of connectivity and digitalization —the Internet penetration in Latin America grew from 43% to 78% between 2012 and 2022—.

Furthermore, the present and future outlooks are also optimistic, as an investment of $86 billion in technological infrastructure in the region is projected between 2024 and 2030, as well as an economic growth of 2.2% by 2026. The result of all this is a new paradigm, in which LATAM has even been able to surpass the United States in generating tech professionals: it is estimated that between Mexico and Brazil alone, they contribute more than 600,000 software engineers to the job market each year.

This situation alone explains why 45% of local companies are already investing in AI and automation projects —according to 2024 data from IDC Latin America—; and why the demand for Latin American tech talent from U.S. companies has grown by 40% thanks to this technology's boost.

Advantages for Europe and Spain of hiring international talent from LATAM

For U.S. companies, this remote hiring model based on nearshoring is particularly valuable due to the high level of specialization that LATAM professionals are showing, their geographical proximity, and the competitiveness of their costs. However, for Europe and Spain, this option becomes offshoring, which does not necessarily pose a disadvantage.

On the contrary, because distance can also be an advantage in IT sector outsourcing processes. Here are some reasons:

**Time zone compatibility that allows for a ‘Follow the Sun’ strategy**

While the time zones of U.S. companies are very similar to those of IT professionals working from LATAM, in Spain and Europe, this aspect becomes an operational plus. Since the workdays on both sides of the Atlantic do not overlap and are perfectly compatible, European companies can implement a work methodology based on ‘Follow The Sun’.

This model allows for extended operational coverage throughout the day, favoring better work organization. Thanks to the perfect fit of schedules, teams can hold real-time meetings, accelerate incident resolution, ensure project continuity through Agile methodologies, provide more comprehensive customer service, and maintain constant communication among different professionals, even when they are in different geographical areas.

A unique combination of qualifications and international experience

The tech specialists from LATAM are accustomed to working in global environments. Due to the talent shortage in their local markets, more and more companies from around the world are turning to the region to fill their vacancies, which gives professionals very valuable experience. This usually translates into:

Greater adaptability to work in changing environments.

Results-oriented mindset.

Ability to work in distributed teams.

Knowledge of Agile methodologies and the ability to apply them.

Mastery of emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, or data analysis.

Diversity to drive innovation, affinity to strengthen teams

Incorporating professionals from different countries brings new perspectives, stimulates creativity, and enhances companies' ability to solve problems from different approaches. In fact, international teams often show greater resilience and adaptability to the needs of global markets, as they find it easier to understand the needs of users from different profiles.

Moreover, in the case of Spanish companies, the decision to hire international talent from LATAM carries low risk from a cultural fit perspective. By sharing language and mindset with most countries in the region, teams tend to be more communicative and efficient.

The human and flexible offshoring of lateam

Hiring international talent should be understood as a strategic investment and not as a temporary solution. At lateam, we advocate a flexible model that helps companies not only find the IT professionals they need for their projects but also accompanies them from the beginning to validate their actual fit and develop long-term professional relationships.

Our goal is to facilitate the construction of stable, committed teams prepared to face the technological challenges of the future. This is why:

We offer companies an extensive network of previously validated IT talent from LATAM.

We use AI-based technology for verifying the identities of professionals and assessing their technical fit —through different levels of ‘match’—.

We apply a ‘human first’ philosophy so that the company, if desired, can hire the professional directly after confirming their total compatibility.

We have a 14-day trial period (not free) to validate the fit of the IT specialist, and we also offer the option to replace them at no additional cost.

Because at lateam, we are clear that the best talent is not only the most qualified but also those who connect with the vision, culture, and objectives of the organization.

Hiring international talent: the competitive advantage you need

Due to the scarcity of IT profiles, hiring international talent has become a key decision to grow without limits. LATAM stands out as a solid source of qualified professionals, with global experience, cultural affinity, and great adaptability.

Leveraging this model allows companies to innovate faster, scale teams flexibly, and strengthen their competitiveness in the market. So at lateam, we help you find the right talent and integrate them successfully from day one.

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