The best tech talent isn’t always where you think it is. While everyone else fights over the same developers in Silicon Valley and London, your competitors are building world-class teams in Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. Latin America has quietly become one of the world’s most compelling remote hiring destinations—and Chile is leading the charge.
Chile earned its spot as Latin America’s most stable and technologically advanced economy the hard way. They invested in infrastructure when others didn’t. They built educational systems that prepare people for modern work. They created a business environment where international companies can operate without endless red tape. The Institute for Management Development took notice, ranking Chile 42nd globally in their World Digital Competitiveness Index. That puts them ahead of several European countries that most people assume are more advanced.
Santiago tells the real story. This isn’t some sleepy capital trying to catch up—it’s a legitimate tech hub with the fastest fixed broadband in Latin America and over 120,000 tech professionals ready to work. Chile’s IT services market is on track to hit $2.74 billion by 2029, which explains why Google and Microsoft already set up shop there. They didn’t come for charity or good PR. They came because they found something most companies miss: a deep talent pool, reliable infrastructure, and a thriving business environment.
The shift is already happening. Companies that wouldn’t have looked past their borders five years ago are now running entire development teams out of Chile. They discovered what Latin America offers isn’t just cost savings—it’s access to talent you can’t find anywhere else, in time zones that actually work with yours, with cultural compatibility that makes collaboration feel natural.
Top reasons to hire workers from Chile
Companies looking to expand their global talent pool will find that Chile offers a compelling combination of skilled professionals, business stability, and operational advantages that make it an ideal hiring destination.
Skilled, educated workforce
Chile boasts one of Latin America’s most educated populations, with a literacy rate of 97.16% as of 2022. The country’s commitment to higher education is evident in its tertiary school enrollment rate of 99.34%, significantly higher than the global average of 55.47%. This strong educational foundation translates into a robust pipeline of qualified professionals across multiple disciplines.
The technology sector particularly benefits from Chile’s educational investments, with over 30,000 computer science graduates entering the workforce annually. Engineering, finance, and customer service roles also draw from this well-educated talent pool. English proficiency levels are notably strong in urban centers like Santiago, where younger professionals and those in business districts demonstrate a solid command of the language.
Favorable time zone alignment
Chile’s time zone positioning creates natural advantages for companies seeking seamless collaboration with North American teams. The country operates on UTC-3 during the summer months and UTC-4 during winter, aligning closely with U.S. Eastern and Central time zones for most of the year. This overlap enables real-time communication and project coordination without the scheduling challenges that come with more distant international hires.
The time zone advantage proves especially valuable for customer support operations, sales teams, and project-based roles that require frequent interaction with U.S.-based colleagues or clients. Companies can maintain business continuity across both markets without significant operational adjustments or extended wait times for critical communications.
Mature tech ecosystem and remote readiness
Chile has established itself as a legitimate startup powerhouse. The government’s Start-Up Chile program has supported over 3,000 startups from more than 85 countries, creating one of the most startup-friendly communities in the world. The fintech sector alone demonstrates this growth trajectory, with 348 active companies in 2024 representing a 16% jump from the previous year.
The country’s digital transformation extends beyond private sector innovation into comprehensive government modernization. Chile’s digital infrastructure foundation and formal remote work legislation through Law No. 21.220 (the Telework Law) creates a framework for distributed collaboration.
Stable business and political climate
Chile ranks as the most stable country in Latin America across multiple international indices. The World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators rank Chile in the 76th percentile globally for government effectiveness and 71st percentile for rule of law. The country also ranks 33rd worldwide in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index.
Governmental stability lends to operational advantages for international employers. Chile’s legal system provides strong contract enforcement and intellectual property protection that rivals developed markets. The country’s regulatory framework also offers clear guidelines for employment law and tax obligations without sudden policy shifts.
Cost-effective talent without compromising quality
Chilean professionals offer workforce cost advantages compared to North American and European markets while maintaining high skill levels and work quality. Salary levels in the country create substantial savings compared to similar roles in developed markets.
The value proposition becomes even more attractive when considering the combination of competitive salaries, strong educational backgrounds, and cultural compatibility with Western business practices. Companies can achieve high return on investment when hiring skilled Chilean professionals without the communication barriers or extreme time zone differences associated with traditional offshore destinations.
In-demand roles and industries in Chile
Chile’s diverse economy and strong educational system have produced professionals who excel across multiple industries and functional areas. Companies find particular value in hiring Chilean talent for roles that require both technical expertise and strong communication skills.
- Tech and software development. Chilean developers bring strong technical foundations from robust computer science programs and hands-on experience from Santiago’s thriving startup ecosystem.
- Finance and accounting. Chile’s position as Latin America’s financial hub has produced accounting and finance professionals with deep expertise in international standards and cross-border transactions.
- Customer service and support. Chilean professionals excel in customer-facing roles due to their strong English proficiency and cultural alignment with North American business practices.
- Design and digital marketing. Chile’s creative industries have flourished alongside its tech sector, leading to more designers and marketers who understand both Latin American and global markets.
- Data analysis and project management. Chilean universities have emphasized STEM education, creating a pipeline of data analysts and project managers skilled in modern tools and international business practices.
What you need to know before you hire in Chile
While Chile offers significant advantages for international hiring, companies must navigate specific legal and regulatory requirements to ensure compliant operations.
- Understanding Chile’s labor laws is a must for compliant hiring. Chilean employment legislation has strong worker protections, including paid maternity leave, mandatory vacation time, overtime regulations, and termination procedures that differ significantly from those in other markets.
- Understand contractor vs. employee classification to avoid legal complications. Chilean authorities scrutinize independent contractor relationships and may reclassify workers as employees if the arrangement resembles traditional employment. This can potentially trigger penalties like back taxes.
- Know the mandatory employee benefits under Chilean law. Full-time employees are entitled to healthcare contributions, pension plan participation, and severance payments that can reach up to 11 months of salary, depending on tenure and termination circumstances.
- Understand the work visa requirements that vary depending on employee nationality and role type. Remote professionals may operate under different work visa categories than those requiring physical presence in Chile, necessitating specific documentation and Chilean authorization processes for each classification.
- Keep up with currency fluctuations that can impact compensation costs and employee satisfaction. Companies should consider how to structure compensation packages that account for Chilean peso volatility while maintaining competitive and predictable pay for employees.
- Partner with an Employer of Record (EOR) to ensure compliant hiring. EOR providers handle all legal obligations, including payroll processing, tax withholding, and benefits administration. This allows companies to hire Chilean talent quickly and compliantly without establishing a local entity.
How Pebl can help you hire in Chile
What stops most companies from hiring talent in Chile is that they think they need lawyers, local entities, and months of setup time. They don’t. With Pebl’s EOR services, you can start hiring next week, not next quarter.
As an EOR in Chile, we handle the complex parts of international hiring. Payroll that works in Chilean pesos. Benefits that make sense locally. Employment contracts that won’t land you in legal trouble. We know Chilean labor law inside and out because we’ve been doing this long enough to see every curveball coming.
You focus on finding great people and building your business. We handle the intricacies of compliance, taxes, and paperwork that nobody wants to think about. That developer in Santiago you’ve been eyeing? They could be on your team faster than you think.
Let’s talk about getting your Chilean team up and running.
This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.
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