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.

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Hiring without borders isn’t just a trend. It’s the future of work. 

The smartest companies are looking beyond their backyard to find the best people, wherever they are in the world. Knowing where to look and for what roles can make the difference between a good hire and a game-changing one.

In this edition of RemoLabs, we’ve crunched real-time data from thousands of hires on the RemoFirst platform, paired with trusted labor market sources, to map out exactly where the hottest job functions are thriving.

Think tech talent in India, operations leaders in the U.K., and finance pros in the Philippines. This is your cheat sheet to today’s global hiring hotspots so you can scale faster, smarter, and with confidence.

The Countries We Selected

We based this report on the seven countries where RemoFirst customers have hired most actively over the past year: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, India, and the Philippines.

These markets represent a diverse mix of regions, economies, and talent specializations. 

From mature hiring markets like the U.S. and U.K., to high-growth hubs like India and the Philippines, each country offers unique value for global employers.

By narrowing in on where our customers are hiring most, we were able to surface the most relevant and actionable trends — highlighting the top job fields gaining traction in each market. 

This can help your company better understand not only where to hire, but what roles make the most sense in each region based on real hiring behavior.

Below, we break down the most common job fields by country, supported by aggregated data and visual charts. The percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number for easier reading and a cleaner visual presentation.

United States

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Key Hiring Highlights

• Engineering (23%)
  The U.S. remains a top choice for hiring highly skilled engineering talent — especially for roles in software development, infrastructure, and systems architecture. With a deep pool of experienced professionals and access to cutting-edge tech ecosystems, it’s no surprise that nearly a quarter of hires fall into this category.
  
  
• Executive and leadership roles (11%)
  Many companies look to the U.S. when hiring senior leaders or executives. The strong business culture, time zone alignment for North American operations, and familiarity with scaling global teams make U.S.-based leaders a valuable asset.
  
  
• HR & People (7%)
  As companies grow across borders, they’re turning to the U.S.-based HR and People Ops professionals to help build inclusive, scalable processes. These roles are key for managing compliance, culture, and talent strategy at scale.
  
  
• Sales and Customer Success (7% Sales, 4% Support/Customer Success)
  The U.S. remains a strategic hub for go-to-market teams. Hiring locally helps companies tap into native English fluency, cultural familiarity, and customer proximity — especially when serving North American clients.
  
  
• Operations and Finance (6% and 4%)
  With many global companies basing their HQ or major operations in the U.S., it makes sense that operational and financial hires are common. These roles often support core business functions that benefit from working close to leadership or clients.
  
  
• Other specialized roles (21%)
  From niche consulting to compliance, education, and creative roles, the U.S. offers a wide range of professional expertise that supports both headquarters and global operations.

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Global companies working with RemoFirst most often hire for roles that require U.S.-specific compliance expertise, deep market knowledge, and strong strategic alignment — especially in core areas like engineering, leadership, HR, finance, and compliance. 

At the same time, emerging job trends — including hybrid/remote flexibility, GIS, AI/cybersecurity expansion, and changes in entry-level tech hiring — are reshaping the global job landscape and creating new opportunity vectors that global employers can embrace with U.S. talent. Learn more about hiring in the United States.

Canada

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Key Hiring Highlights

• Engineering (15%)
  With strong tech hubs in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, Canada continues to be a popular destination for engineering talent. Companies are hiring Canadian engineers for their technical expertise, high education standards, and time zone overlap with U.S. teams.
  
  
• Executive (13%)
  Canada’s stable business environment and global mindset make it a compelling place to hire executive-level roles. Leaders based in Canada often bring cross-border experience and are well-equipped to manage international teams and operations.
  
  
• HR and Client Success (8% HR, 6% Support)
  HR professionals in Canada are known for their emphasis on equity, inclusion, and compliance — making them valuable hires for companies scaling responsibly. Similarly, support roles are often filled by professionals with strong communication skills and multilingual capabilities.
  
  
• Sales and Marketing (9% Sales, 8% Marketing)
  Canada is an attractive base for building go-to-market functions in North America. Companies benefit from strong cultural alignment with U.S. buyers, while also gaining access to a more cost-effective talent market compared to major U.S. cities.
  
  
• Finance and Operations (6% each)
  Many organizations are hiring finance and operations professionals in Canada to support North American workflows without the overhead of hiring exclusively in the U.S. Canadian talent offers high-quality output with fewer logistical barriers.
  
  
• Other (26%)
  This significant “Other” category points to Canada’s versatility — employers are hiring across consulting, creative, project management, and compliance roles, depending on business needs.

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Companies hiring in Canada are investing in roles that require local expertise, regulatory familiarity, and high educational/training standards — particularly across engineering, analytics, leadership, and support functions. 

Emerging opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, renewable energy, digital mining, and skill-first hiring models point to exciting new avenues for expansion. Learn more about hiring in Canada.

Germany

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Key Hiring Highlights

• Engineering stands strong (18%)
  Germany has long been recognized for its engineering excellence — particularly in software, manufacturing tech, and automation. With a strong education system and reputation for precision and quality, it's no surprise that nearly one-fifth of roles hired in Germany are in engineering.
  
  
• HR and marketing roles show surprising strength (30% combined)
  HR professionals in Germany are often highly experienced in navigating complex labor laws and managing compliance across the EU — making them critical for companies scaling across Europe. Meanwhile, marketing talent in Germany possesses local market expertise, language skills, and regional knowledge that’s essential for European growth strategies.
  
  
• Executive hiring is active (13%)
  Companies are hiring senior leaders in Germany to oversee EMEA operations or to lead local expansion efforts. Germany’s central location, economic stability, and business-friendly environment make it an ideal hub for European leadership.
  
  
• Finance, legal, and sales roles round out strategic support (14% combined)
  Whether it’s navigating tax regulations or building a local sales presence, finance and legal experts in Germany help global teams stay compliant and competitive. Sales professionals, while a smaller percentage, often bring multilingual capabilities and deep familiarity with the DACH region.
  
  
• A strong showing of specialized talent (16% “Other”)
  The diversity in the “Other” category reflects Germany’s well-rounded labor force — spanning fields like compliance, supply chain, consulting, and localization. Companies often tap into this market for its operational efficiency and industry-specific know-how.

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Global companies hiring in Germany are strategically tapping into a skilled, stable, and regulation-dense workforce, especially across engineering, HR, marketing, and compliance-oriented roles. 

At the same time, evolving dynamics —  such as labor shortages, automation, digital infrastructure growth, and work-flexibility demands — are redefining the talent landscape and creating new opportunity areas for forward-looking employers. Learn more about hiring in Germany. 

United Kingdom

Key Hiring Highlights

• Executives (39%). The U.K. has a deep pool of experienced C-suite and senior leaders with global market expertise, making it ideal for companies looking to establish or expand leadership teams. London’s role as a global business hub attracts top executive talent across finance, technology, and professional services.
  
  
• Sales & Business Development (11%). The U.K.’s mature and competitive market environment fosters sales professionals skilled in both domestic and international deal-making. Strong access to European and global markets from the U.K. equips sales teams to drive cross-border growth.
  
  
• Engineering & Technical Roles (11%). The U.K. has world-class universities and thriving tech hubs (London, Cambridge, Manchester) producing highly skilled engineers and developers. Government support for innovation and R&D creates an environment where technical talent thrives, particularly in AI, fintech, and advanced manufacturing.
  
  
• Operations & HR (combined 11%). The U.K. workforce has deep expertise in building operational infrastructure for scaling companies. HR talent is well-versed in U.K. and EU labor laws, making it easier for companies to ensure compliance and manage diverse, international teams.

• Marketing & Creative (5%). The U.K.’s creative industries are among the most recognized globally, producing talent skilled in brand strategy, digital campaigns, and content production. Access to multicultural markets makes U.K. marketing professionals adept at tailoring campaigns for diverse audiences

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Global companies hiring in the U.K. benefit from world-class leadership, financial/legal expertise, and resilient engineering and sales talent, all anchored in one of the world’s most globally connected economies. 

While cautious hiring trends and return-to-office pressures shape the current environment, growth opportunities remain strong in AI, green tech, digital infrastructure, and skill-based leadership pipelines. This makes the U.K. a strategic choice for both high-level leadership and specialized roles. Learn more about hiring in the United Kingdom. 

India

Key Hiring Highlights

• Executives (42%). India offers a large talent pool of experienced senior leaders with expertise in scaling operations, managing large teams, and expanding into APAC and Middle East markets.Many executives bring multinational experience, making them well-suited for companies looking to operate globally.

• Operations (16%). Strong operational leaders with expertise in logistics, supply chain, and business process management.Ideal for companies aiming to establish or expand back-office, support, and regional coordination hubs in India.

• HR & Talent Acquisition (6%). Skilled HR professionals experienced in high-volume recruitment and managing distributed teams.Valuable for companies scaling rapidly and seeking cost-efficient recruitment expertise.

• Engineering & Technical (6%). India is home to a massive pool of engineers and technical specialists, especially in software development, cloud infrastructure, and security. Ideal for building cost-effective, high-quality technical teams with global delivery capabilities.

• Sales & Business Development (4%). Sales professionals in India often have experience selling into global markets, particularly in technology, manufacturing, and services sectors. Useful for companies seeking to grow APAC client bases or manage regional accounts.

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Global companies hiring in India can strategically target roles that will find senior leadership, operational depth, and emerging tech fluency, with a growing focus on AI, innovation, and next-gen GCC functions. 

As hiring expands beyond traditional metros into tier-2 cities and remote/hybrid models stabilize, India offers deep, agile talent pools — well-suited for global scaling, innovation hubs, and cost-effective leadership placement. Learn more about hiring in India.

Spain

Key Hiring Highlights

• Executives (37%). Spain offers a strong base of multilingual senior leaders experienced in managing operations across Southern Europe, Latin America, and North Africa.Many executives are skilled in navigating EU regulations and market expansion strategies, making them ideal for international roles.
  
  
• HR & Talent Acquisition (10%). A growing pool of HR professionals adept at managing multicultural teams and complex labor laws across the EU.Beneficial for companies expanding European operations or seeking expertise in employee engagement and retention.
  
  
• Sales & Business Development (7%). Sales professionals in Spain often have extensive networks in key sectors like tourism, technology, and renewable energy.Skilled in cross-border sales, especially targeting Latin American markets due to cultural and language alignment.
  
  
• Engineering & Technical (6%). Talent in software engineering, product design, and technical project management is growing, fueled by Spain’s expanding tech hubs in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
• Legal & Compliance (4%). Strong legal professionals with knowledge of EU-wide compliance, GDPR, and cross-border corporate governance — critical for regulated industries. 

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For global hiring in Spain, the standout roles — particularly in executive leadership, technical and green innovation, and compliance-focused functions — reflect Spain’s evolving landscape. 

Rapid shifts toward hybrid models, tech salary competition, and the booming renewable energy sector all underline Spain’s strategic appeal. Learn more about hiring in Spain.

Philippines

Key Hiring Highlights

• Executives (36%). Many executives in the Philippines are experienced in leading cross-functional teams and managing shared service or outsourcing operations for multinational companies.Strong English proficiency and cultural adaptability make them effective leaders for regional or global teams.
  
  
• Operations (10%). Skilled in process optimization, service delivery, and operational leadership — ideal for companies establishing BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) or back-office functions.
  
  
• Engineering & Technical (8%). Growing pool of software developers, product engineers, and technical leads with experience in global project delivery. Strong presence in specialized areas such as cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and web development.
  
  
• HR & Talent Acquisition (7%). HR professionals in the Philippines are adept at high-volume recruitment, employee engagement, and compliance with local labor laws. Particularly valuable for scaling teams quickly in APAC.

• Sales & Client Success (4%). Experienced in account management and customer success roles, often for international markets, providing both relationship management and operational support.

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Global companies hiring in the Philippines can capitalize on a robust blend of executive leadership, skilled operational and emerging tech roles, and remote-first adaptability. 

With business process management (BPM) underpinning steady growth and the rise of hybrid expectations, the Philippines is rebranding as a destination for strategic, compliant, and high-value talent placement. 

And with RemoFirst, our Employer of Record structure amplifies this by simplifying the legal complexity and enabling compliant employment in the Philippines. Learn more about hiring in the Philippines.

Emerging Talent Hubs to Watch

Beyond the core seven markets, the global hiring landscape is expanding — and fast. 

Here are three standout emerging destinations where smart companies are tapping deep education pipelines, language proficiency, remote-work readiness, and cost or time zone advantages:

Colombia

Boasting a rich academic ecosystem of over 300 universities and widespread English education and bootcamp participation, Colombia feeds a growing pool of tech, customer-service, and BPO talent.

With shared time zones and cultural alignment with North America, it’s a strategic nearshore hub that delivers high quality while keeping costs 30–60% lower than major countries, like the United States.

Vietnam

Vietnam is quickly emerging as a tech and manufacturing powerhouse, producing over 400,000 STEM graduates annually and investing heavily in IT parks and innovation hubs. 

English proficiency is rising, especially among younger workers. And salaries for skilled tech roles remain 50–70% lower than in Western markets. Its overlap with both Asia-Pacific and parts of Europe makes it attractive for companies seeking round-the-clock operations.

Romania

As part of the EU, Romania offers strong legal alignment for European employers, a highly educated workforce (particularly in engineering and finance), and has one of the highest English-proficiency rates in Eastern Europe. 

With competitive costs and a time zone that bridges Western Europe and Asia, Romanian professionals are in high demand for software development, design, and business services.

Why these markets shine for RemoFirst clients:

• Built-for-scale pipelines: From Vietnam’s growing STEM output to Romania’s EU-linked higher ed system, talent supply is healthy and expanding.
  
  
• Communication-ready teams: English fluency is strong in all three, with cultural familiarity in international collaboration.
  
  
• Remote-work familiarity: Each market has growing exposure to distributed teams and cross-border projects.
  
  
• Smart economics & timing: Cost efficiency remains a major draw — paired with favorable time zone overlaps for global collaboration.

Ready to start employing global talent? See how RemoFirst can help. Book your demo with our experts to learn more.

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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.