Employers Embrace Nearshore Talent Sources

High talent demand and steep costs are driving renewed interest in sourcing for workers, through nearshoring.
As its name implies, nearshoring refers to outsourcing work from a nearby country — opposed to offshoring,
where workers can be in opposite time zones and distant locations.

U.S. and Canadian organizations nearshore and directly hire workers from Latin America (LATAM). Their EMEA counterparts source from Eastern Europe, and many APAC companies source from low-cost locations in Southeast Asia.

In addition to cost differences and advanced technology skills, the region features widespread alignment in language and time zone for customer-centric roles.

LATAM workforce costs range 30–50% below U.S. market rates.

Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic are cost-effective sources for educated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent in EMEA.

Startups in South Korea are turning to Vietnam for software development support to benefit from cost savings, culture, and time-zone alignment.

Nearshoring to Eastern Europe reduces software development costs by 40%.

Developer salaries in Vietnam are 50% lower than in South Korea.

Our View

Prioritize data and transparency in your partnership.

A talent partner can provide the expertise, processes, and data to deliver reliably from both near- or offshore sources. In-country resources from the same provider can be a plus for maintaining a strong local presence.

Select the right delivery model for each market.

Contractor-led, hybrid, or direct-hire strategies must fit local labor laws and cultural norms. A workforce strategy that flexes permanent hire, contractor, contingent, or outsourced services allows the freedom to adjust to country-specific conditions.

Leverage multi-regional expertise to guide decisions.

LATAM, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia pose distinct challenges, including differences in market maturity, labor regulations, and geopolitical risks. A global talent partner brings a critical perspective to shape a strategy that reduces roadblocks.

Expert Perspective

Successful TA evolves to meet the specialized demands of a changing business environment. Modular talent solutions make it possible.

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Whitney Oesting

Vice President,
Modular Delivery, RPO
KellyOCG + Sevenstep