The Benefits Of Expanding Into Europe
If you are a US-based company or from elsewhere abroad and want to start recruiting in Europe, which countries will you look at? Here are six of the best options for businesses looking to hire remote workers overseas.
Remote work has not just removed locational barriers to hiring; in many cases, it has also broken down national borders. Businesses have discovered that recruiting remote employees from overseas can often have significant cost savings, as talented staff can be found in areas with lower costs of living.
However, it isn’t just about saving money. An Open Access Government report found that 72 per cent of organisations that recruited remote workers from overseas saw an increase in productivity, while 60 per cent saw an increase in the number of quality applicants per role. However, deciding to hire remotely is only half the challenge. Picking a country to recruit from is an extremely important decision.
Many businesses have already opted for countries like Croatia or Portugal, but competition in these nations is now high and recruiting talented employees has become more difficult. Here are the six countries we would recommend for remote hiring in Europe.
Sweden
Sometimes called the Silicon Valley of Europe, Sweden is a fantastic place to recruit if you’re looking for IT or tech workers. It is also extremely well set up for remote work, with more than half of employees already working in this manner. With a highly educated workforce, it’s a good choice for anyone recruiting in skilled or technical professions.
It is worth bearing in mind that Swedish employees are entitled to numerous employment benefits, and unions are highly integrated into Swedish culture. Hiring in this nation might mean negotiating with union organisations, and employees typically command higher salaries than in other European countries. However, the trade-off to the higher costs is highly skilled workers situated in a hub for tech.
The Netherlands
Similarly to Sweden, the costs of hiring someone in the Netherlands are relatively high. Unemployment is low, so competition for Dutch talent can be high depending on your industry, and employment laws are relatively strict. However, once again the benefits of recruiting in the Netherlands can outweigh the risks.
Not only is the workforce well-educated and highly skilled, but the country is a hub for international business and is one of the most competitive countries in the world. With excellent infrastructure and business connections with the rest of Europe, it is a smart option for companies looking to establish themselves internationally.
Belgium
Belgium is very similar to the Netherlands in terms of its recruitment opportunities. For a small country, it has a highly concentrated pool of professional talent, and its high standard of living attracts skilled workers from across Europe. The country is well connected to the rest of the continent and benefits from a robust remote working culture.
As with other European countries, employment laws in Belgium are strict and workers are entitled to a large number of benefits from their employers. However, this is part of the cost of the high living standards that attract so much talent to the country. While Belgium is a higher-cost option, the quality of talent available makes it worth the price.
Poland
Central Europe is a difficult destination to recruit in, but Poland stands out as a business-friendly location for remote workers. Despite the highly skilled workforce, labour costs in Poland are relatively low, especially when compared to the rest of Europe. In particular, the country has become a hotbed for workers in the fields of engineering, software and data science.
Poland has also created excellent conditions for remote workers, implementing a flexible framework in 2023 that ensures workers’ rights are protected while also giving companies the ability to get the most out of their remote workforce.
Spain
Spain is not often thought of as an international employment destination, particularly because the country has relatively high labour costs despite its low cost of living. However, it is an up-and-coming market with increasingly solid labour laws, making it a good place to find talent without high levels of competition with other employers.
Spain has also seen a boom in remote work since 2020, and many Spanish employees expect to be able to work from home. The populace is also highly educated, although sometimes this does not translate into employable skills.
France
The tech and finance sectors in France have established themselves recently as global players, and with an extremely stable employment market, this makes France a fantastic place to hire. French workers enjoy comprehensive labour rights and a high standard of living, ensuring the country can attract plenty of highly skilled talent.
Compared to many European countries, French workers are more flexible about how they do their jobs. In addition to remote working being popular, there are also a larger number of freelance and temporary roles than in other countries nearby. This makes France a great option for businesses who want to hire in Europe flexibly.
Final Words
There are very few bad options for US companies or from other regions when it comes to remote hiring in Europe, but these six countries are the best places to find employees with the skills, talent and experience your business needs to thrive. Of course, recruiting internationally comes with its own set of challenges, and companies need to make sure they’re partnering with local help where possible.
You can also access our free e-book, complete with extensive information to help you navigate this process with confidence – click here to fill out the form and we’ll send you a copy.
Posted in: Belgium / Blog / Client / France / Ireland / Netherlands / Poland / Spain / Sweden / UK
