The emergence of LatAm as a new global tech talent hub has brought a great deal of investment to the region. Seeing a professionally thriving concentration of tech workers in a growing metropolis should look familiar — they have quite a bit in common with the US.
A Bright Future for Tech
A significant amount of people in the US only know about LatAm through unfortunate stereotypes portrayed in popular media. These generalizations come from a tumultuous and real point in history, but the region has spectacularly changed for the better in the past four decades. Whether it’s the public transportation systems in Medellín, the modern art museums in Montevideo, or the brightly-lit streets of Buenos Aires, it’s readily apparent just how much some major cities in LatAm have changed for the better.
Government education initiatives in Colombia, Chile, and Mexico have boosted STEM graduation rates as a percentage of total higher-ed graduates, surpassing rates in the US. The push to close the tech talent gap has incentivized many LatAm countries to invest more resources into their educational and economic futures, with infrastructure to match.
Big Startup Energy
Exploring the technologically flourishing LatAm cityscapes, there may be an air of familiarity to anyone who has spent time in Austin, Texas, circa 2010. Houses have been remodeled into office spaces with scrappy teams piecing together the latest version of their platform. Thousands of companies are flocking to the region to invest in the next wave of technological talent. The collective energy for developing new technologies and products feels like a continental phenomenon, from the wave of AI researchers in Brazil to the graduating class of statistical programmers in Colombia.
“If you’ve only been using an outsourcing platform to hire in LatAm, I suggest you spend some time down there and see what it really is like. Go and visit.” — Frank Licea, founder & CTO
A Different Caliber of Talent
As LatAm countries have been focusing their economic and educational resources towards developing a thriving next generation of tech specialists, the pool of qualified talent has rapidly expanded. The main hurdle to overcome in the modern era is finding long-term talent for long-term growth. Utilizing the services of a talent recruitment agency like Howdy can help narrow searches to the top 1% of talent and ensure people stick around for the long haul.
Team members want to be recognized for their hard work and have a say in how the company creates the final product. Still, many companies overreach their exertion of control over employees by remotely screenshotting their progress and digitally peering over their shoulders. The sweet spot for both employers and employees involves genuine trust and open feedback channels, not dehumanizing practices. Operating and collaborating with nearshore talent can make a tremendous impact on long-term growth and looks increasingly like the primary workforce solution of the future.