Cross-Border Hiring Statistics 2026: Platform Data, Hiring Costs and Employer Rules in 35 Countries
Where companies hire across borders, which roles move, how visa changes in the US, UK and Canada are reshaping it, and what a hire costs. Built from 18 statistical and policy sources, plus our own check of employer rules and hiring costs in 35 countries.
29 of 35
countries regulate employee leasing
Original data
USD 125.6
median cost of USD 100 of salary through an EOR
Original data
72%
of employers report difficulty filling roles
ManpowerGroup, 2026
167.7M
international migrant workers worldwide
ILO, 2022 data
Six findings for employers hiring across borders in 2026
Three come from our own research across 35 countries. Three come from official statistics.
29/35
Original datacountries regulate employee leasing, and 19 of them add a time cap, a role limit or a ban on core activities.
EmployerRecords employer rules check, Oct 2026
15/35
Original datacountries require salaries to be paid in local currency. 10 more allow foreign currency only with conditions.
EmployerRecords employer rules check, Oct 2026
USD 108 to 150
Original datais the cost of USD 100 of salary through an EOR, from the UAE (expatriate staff) to France, with employer contributions and the median EOR fee.
EmployerRecords landed cost analysis, Oct 2026
167.7M
international migrant workers were in the global labour force in 2022, 4.7% of all workers. 68.4% of them work in high-income countries.
ILO Global Estimates, 4th edition, 2022 data
1.3M
first residence permits for paid work were issued in the EU in 2025, up 16.1% on 2024. Employment was the most common reason for a permit.
Eurostat, 2025
−30%
fewer UK Skilled Worker visas were granted to main applicants in the year to June 2026, after the salary threshold rose to GBP 41,700.
UK Home Office, year ending June 2026
Cross-border hiring statistics at a glance: the 21 numbers that matter
Each figure shows its source and period. Platform figures describe that platform's customers only.
Hiring volume
283% growth in cross-border hiring of general AI trainers in 2025, the fastest-growing cross-border role on Deel.
Deel, 2025 data
42% growth in cross-border hiring on Deel in 2024, against 104% growth in domestic hiring on the same platform.
Deel, 2024 data
47% of new hires on Oyster in 2024 were in emerging economies, up 3 points on 2023.
Oyster, 2024 data
57% of HR professionals surveyed by Oyster planned to hire in another country within 12 months.
Oyster survey, 2025 report
29% global net employment outlook for Q4 2026, from 39,878 employers in 42 countries.
ManpowerGroup, Q4 2026
72% of employers report difficulty filling roles, down from 74% a year earlier.
ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage, 2026
Destinations
2 of 7 countries, the UK and Canada, appear on all three platform destination lists we compared.
EmployerRecords analysis of Deel, Oyster and RemoFirst data
9% of new hires on Oyster were in the Philippines, its top destination in 2024.
Oyster, 2024 data
37 to 57% of hires on RemoFirst were in Europe in each month from March to August 2026.
RemoFirst Global Hiring Index
12.2% of cross-border hires by top-funded startups went to the UK, the top destination for that group.
Deel, 2025 data
Roles and models
28% of cross-border hires at top-funded startups were software developers.
Deel, 2025 data
37% to 48% rise in the emerging-market share between a company's first international hire and its later hires.
Oyster, 2024 data
+46% growth in new contractor engagements on Oyster in 2024, while new full-time hires fell 2%.
Oyster, 2024 data
Visas and mobility
167.7M international migrant workers worldwide, 4.7% of the global labour force.
ILO, 2022 data
1.3M first EU residence permits for paid work in 2025, up 16.1%.
Eurostat, 2025
USD 100,000 payment required with new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US since 21 September 2025, extended to September 2027.
US Proclamation, Sept 2025 and Sept 2026
385,000 temporary resident arrivals targeted by Canada for 2026, down from 673,650 in 2025.
IRCC Levels Plan 2026 to 2028
Employer rules and cost (EmployerRecords research)
29 of 35 countries regulate employee leasing by statute.
EmployerRecords rules check, Oct 2026
12 of 35 countries both restrict employee leasing and require pay in local currency.
EmployerRecords rules check, Oct 2026
7 of 35 countries require about a month of extra pay each year, such as a 13th month or an 8% holiday allowance.
EmployerRecords rules check, Oct 2026
USD 125.6 is the median cost of USD 100 of salary through an EOR across 35 countries (Japan).
EmployerRecords landed cost analysis, Oct 2026
Cross-border hiring keeps growing, but no two datasets count the same thing
No statistics office counts companies that employ people in another country. The closest measures come from employment platforms, and each one describes its own customers. Read them side by side, not as one market figure.
How fast is cross-border hiring growing? On Deel, cross-border hiring grew 42% in 2024 while domestic hiring grew 104% (Deel, 2024 data). On Oyster, 47% of new hires in 2024 were in emerging economies, and 57% of HR professionals it surveyed planned to hire in another country within 12 months (Oyster, 2025 report).
Five platform and survey measures, each with its own population
Deel1M+ contracts, 2025
283%
Growth in cross-border hiring of general AI trainers in 2025. 70,000+ AI trainers now work for 600+ organisations.
DeelContracts, 2024
+42%
Year-on-year growth in cross-border hiring in 2024. Domestic hiring on the platform grew 104%.
OysterNew hires, 2024
47%
Share of new hires in emerging economies, up 3 points on 2023.
RemoFirst10,000+ companies, Mar to Aug 2026
37 to 57%
Europe's share of hires in each month. Software engineer was the most-hired role every month.
ManpowerGroup39,878 employers, Q4 2026
29%
Net employment outlook for all hiring, not only cross-border. India leads at 54%, Brazil 53%.
These figures cover different customers, periods and definitions. Do not rank them against each other.
Two thirds of international migrant workers are in high-income countries
167.7M
4.7% of the global labour force. 61.3% are men and 38.7% women.
EU work migration, annual flows
1.3M
first residence permits issued for paid work in 2025, up 16.1%. Employment was the most common reason.
78,100
EU Blue Cards for highly qualified workers in 2024, 72% issued by Germany. About 12% fewer than in 2023.
Sources: Eurostat, first residence permits (2025); Eurostat, EU Blue Cards (2023 and 2024).
For employers: platform data shows where companies hire people in their home countries. Permit data shows where people relocate for work. They measure two different routes to the same talent.
Only the UK and Canada appear on all three platform shortlists
We compared the published destination lists from Deel, Oyster and RemoFirst. Eight countries appear on at least one. Only two make every list, and both are high-income markets.
Destination countries named by each platform
| Country | Deel | Oyster | RemoFirst | Lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 3 of 3 | |||
| Canada | 3 of 3 | |||
| Philippines | 2 of 3 | |||
| India | 2 of 3 | |||
| United States | 2 of 3 | |||
| Germany | 2 of 3 | |||
| Spain | 2 of 3 | |||
| Australia | 1 of 3 |
Top-funded startups hire across borders in high-income markets
Bars on a 0 to 15% scale
The Philippines leads Oyster's destination ranking
Bars on a 0 to 10% scale
Europe takes the largest regional share
Fastest-growing markets on Oyster, 2024
Growth in new hires, bars on a 0 to 150% scale. Source: Oyster, 2025 Global Hiring Trends and Impact Report (2024 data).
For employers: Germany and Spain reach the lists through startup and EOR data, and both restrict employee leasing by statute. Check how your provider employs staff there before you sign (chapter 5).
AI trainers are the fastest-growing cross-border hire, and contractors are outpacing employees
Deel's 2025 data puts three roles outside engineering at the top of cross-border growth. Oyster's data shows the employment model changing too: contractor engagements rose 46% in 2024 while new full-time hires fell 2%.
Fastest-growing cross-border roles
Bars on a 0 to 300% scale
70,000+
AI trainers working for 600+ organisations
58.2%
of AI trainers are based in the US
After the first hire abroad, companies move into emerging markets
+46%
new contractor engagements, 2023 to 2024
−2%
new full-time hires over the same period
Technology roles make up a third of internationally employed staff
For employers: software developers still lead cross-border hiring at top-funded startups (28% of their cross-border hires), but growth has moved to AI training, legal and medical support roles.
The US, UK and Canada tightened work visas within 14 months
Between July 2025 and September 2026, three of the largest destinations for skilled workers raised the cost of a work visa or cut the number on offer. For employers, an in-country hire in the candidate's home market is now the comparison point for every relocation.
Five changes that raised the cost of relocating a hire
22 Jul 2025 · UK
Skilled Worker threshold rises to GBP 41,700
A graduate-level skill floor (RQF 6) now applies to most new roles.
21 Sep 2025 · US
USD 100,000 payment for new H-1B petitions
Applies to new petitions for workers outside the US.
4 Nov 2025 · Canada
Temporary resident target cut to 385,000
The 2026 arrivals target, down from 673,650 in 2025.
27 Feb 2026 · US
Wage-weighted H-1B selection replaces the lottery
Higher wage levels get up to four entries.
21 Sep 2026 · US
H-1B payment extended for 12 months
The USD 100,000 rule now runs to September 2027.
UK Skilled Worker and Health and Care visa applications
509,075
114,466
−78%
Source: UK Home Office, immigration statistics, year ending June 2026. Change is our calculation.
Canada temporary resident arrivals target
673,650
385,000
−43%
Source: IRCC, 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan. Change is our calculation.
EU Blue Cards issued
89,000
78,100
−12%
Source: Eurostat, EU Blue Cards (2023 and 2024). 2023 figure is approximate.
For employers: UK Skilled Worker grants to main applicants fell 30% in the year to June 2026. Price an in-country hire through an EOR (chapter 6) before you start a sponsorship.
Chapters 05 and 06 are our own data, compiled from laws, authority rates and provider prices in 35 countries and reviewed on 14 October 2026.
29 of 35 countries regulate employee leasing. 19 add caps or bans.
We checked four rules that shape how an employer of record can hire for you in each of the 35 countries we rank: employee leasing law, local-currency pay, contract language and mandatory extra pay. Each value reflects the law in force on 14 October 2026.
29/35
regulate employee leasing by statute
19/35
add a time cap, role limit or core-activity ban
15/35
require salaries in local currency
7/35
require about a month of extra pay a year
3/35
require a local-language contract nationally
The rule applies nationally by statute. For leasing: a licence plus a time cap, role limit or core-activity ban.
Applies with conditions: a licence only, some regions or sectors, or foreign currency allowed by agreement.
No statutory rule found in national law on the review date.
| Country | Employee leasing regulated | Pay in local currency | Local-language contract | Mandatory extra annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AustraliaAsia-Pacific | LimitedLabour hire licence in four states | No | No | LimitedAward leave loading |
| AustriaEurope | LimitedRegulated trade, no time cap | No | No | Limited13th and 14th via agreements |
| BelgiumEurope | YesListed motives, peak work 6 + 6 months | Yes | LimitedLanguage set by region | YesDouble holiday pay |
| BrazilAmericas | YesRegistration, 180 + 90 days maximum | Yes | LimitedPortuguese for legal effect | Yes13th salary |
| CanadaAmericas | LimitedAgency licence in Ontario | LimitedVaries by province | LimitedFrench in Quebec | No |
| ChinaAsia-Pacific | YesLicence, 10% headcount cap, auxiliary roles | YesWages in RMB | No | No |
| ColombiaAmericas | YesMinistry authorisation, 6 + 6 months | Yes | No | YesPrima, 30 days a year |
| Czech RepublicEurope | YesMPSV permit, 12-month cap per user | LimitedForeign currency in set cases | No | No |
| DenmarkEurope | NoEqual treatment only, no licence | No | No | Limited1% holiday supplement |
| FinlandEurope | NoNo licence or cap | No | No | LimitedHoliday bonus via agreements |
| FranceEurope | YesListed cases, 18-month cap in most | LimitedForeign currency in limited cases | YesFrench required | No |
| GeorgiaEurope | NoNo leasing regime | Limited | No | No |
| GermanyEurope | YesAÜG permit, 18-month cap, construction ban | YesGewO s107: pay in euro | No | No |
| Hong KongAsia-Pacific | LimitedEmployment agency licence | Limited | No | No |
| IndiaAsia-Pacific | YesOSH Code licence, core-activity limits | Yes | No | Limited8.33% bonus below wage ceiling |
| IndonesiaAsia-Pacific | YesSupply limited to six support activities | Yes | YesIndonesian required | YesTHR, one month's wage |
| IrelandEurope | LimitedAnnual agency licence, no cap | No | No | No |
| IsraelMiddle East | YesLicence, 9-month cap per user | No | No | LimitedRecreation pay |
| ItalyEurope | YesAuthorisation, quantitative caps | No | No | Limited13th via binding agreements |
| JapanAsia-Pacific | YesMHLW licence, 3-year cap, banned sectors | Yes | No | No |
| MexicoAmericas | YesStaff subcontracting banned since 2021 | Yes | No | LimitedAguinaldo, 15 days |
| NetherlandsEurope | LimitedTrade register entry, licensing from 2027 | LimitedOther currency if agreed | No | Yes8% holiday allowance |
| New ZealandAsia-Pacific | NoNo licence or cap | Yes | No | No |
| NorwayEurope | YesApproval, regional construction ban | No | No | LimitedHoliday pay above leave pay |
| PhilippinesAsia-Pacific | YesRegistration, labour-only contracting banned | Yes | No | Yes13th-month pay |
| PolandEurope | YesRegistration, 18 months in any 36 | No | LimitedPolish unless worker opts out | No |
| SingaporeAsia-Pacific | LimitedMOM employment agency licence | Yes | No | No |
| South KoreaAsia-Pacific | YesPermitted jobs list, time limit, permission | Yes | No | No |
| SpainEurope | YesPrior authorisation, temporary cases only | Yes | No | YesTwo extra payments |
| TaiwanAsia-Pacific | NoUser liability rules, no licence | Yes | No | No |
| ThailandAsia-Pacific | NoEqual treatment only, no licence | LimitedForeign currency with consent | No | No |
| United Arab EmiratesMiddle East | LimitedMOHRE licence | LimitedOther currency if in contract | YesArabic version prevails | No |
| United KingdomEurope | LimitedLicence only in some sectors | No | No | No |
| United StatesAmericas | LimitedPEO registration in some states, no cap | LimitedVaries by state | No | No |
| VietnamAsia-Pacific | YesLicence, 12-month cap, permitted jobs | LimitedForeign staff may be paid in FX | No | No |
What is changing
Netherlands1 Jan 2027
Compulsory licensing for staffing firms under the Wtta. Using an unlicensed supplier is banned from 1 January 2028.
IndonesiaPending
A new labour protection law passed parliament on 6 October 2026. It limits outsourcing further and has a reported one-year transition once signed.
United KingdomApril 2027
Umbrella companies come under employment agency regulation under the Employment Rights Act 2025.
European Union2 Dec 2026
Deadline to transpose the Platform Work Directive, which presumes employment for platform workers when control criteria are met.
European Union7 Jun 2026, passed
Deadline to transpose the Pay Transparency Directive. Only a minority of member states had done so by October 2026.
VietnamDraft
A July 2026 draft decree would change how labour leasing is licensed. No effective date yet.
Sources: Staatsblad 2025, 385 and 2026, 159 (Netherlands); DPR plenary, 6 Oct 2026 (Indonesia); Employment Rights Act 2025 (UK); Directive (EU) 2024/2831; Directive (EU) 2023/970.
For employers: in the 19 countries marked Yes for employee leasing, ask your EOR for its local leasing licence and how it handles the time cap before a hire reaches the limit.
USD 100 of salary costs USD 108 to USD 150 abroad
Same salary in every country, plus employer contributions and the median EOR fee. The gap between cheapest and dearest is USD 42.
Median across 35 countries
USD 125.6
is what USD 100 of salary costs through an EOR in the median country, Japan.
How to read the chart
Employer contributions are statutory social security, pension, payroll tax and mandatory insurance, after caps, at a USD 60,000 salary.
EOR fee is the median published starting price of the providers we rank in that country, from USD 399 to USD 599 a month.
Not included: 13th-month pay, holiday bonuses, severance accruals, state or city payroll taxes and income tax.
Worker status: Singapore uses the citizen and PR rate (17.2%; foreign pass holders 0.2%). The UAE uses the expatriate rate (0%; nationals 12.5%).
Landed cost of USD 100 of salary through an EOR
Bars on a 0 to 160 scale
For employers: in France, Brazil and the Czech Republic, the employer pays more than USD 44 on top of every USD 100 of salary, before any 13th month or holiday bonus.
Entity, EOR or contractor: the country's rules narrow the choice before cost does
The right route for a first hire abroad depends on how the country treats employee leasing, how pay must be made and how long you plan to stay.
Route 1
Set up a local entity
You employ directly and hold every registration yourself.
No leasing rules apply, because you are the employer.
Local-currency payroll is required in 15 of 35 countries.
Best fit when headcount and time horizon justify the setup and closure cost.
Route 2
Hire through an employer of record
The EOR employs your hire and places them with you.
Leasing licence: check your provider holds one in the 29 countries that regulate leasing.
Time caps: 9 months per user in Israel, 12 in the Czech Republic and Vietnam, 18 in Germany.
Fees: median published starting prices run from USD 399 to USD 599 a month by country.
Route 3
Engage an independent contractor
No payroll or leasing licence, but the work must be genuinely independent.
Classification risk grows where the relationship looks like employment.
EU platform work: the presumption of employment must be in national law by 2 December 2026.
Further reading:employee misclassification statistics.
Price the hire before you choose the route. The EmployerRecords cost calculator adds statutory employer costs to any salary in 184 countries.
Open the cost calculatorHow we built this report
Data reviewed on 14 October 2026. Rules are counted only when in force on that date.
Rules checked at the source
Every value in the employer rules table comes from legislation, an official gazette or the authority that enforces it. Where only a translation or law firm summary was available, the source list says so.
Costs computed, not quoted
Landed cost is our calculation at a USD 60,000 salary, using 2026 contribution rates and caps, exchange rates for 13 October 2026 and the median published EOR fee per country.
Platform data labelled
Platform figures describe each provider's own customers. We show the population and period next to every figure and never rank platforms against each other.
Every change logged
Each update records the date, the old value, the new value and the source, in the log below.
Update log
Full source list (18 statistical and policy sources, 35 countries)
Statistical and policy sources
| Source | Publisher | Period | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Global Hiring Report (2025 data) | Deel | 2025 | View |
| State of Global Hiring Report (2024 data) | Deel | 2024 | View |
| 2025 Global Hiring Trends and Impact Report | Oyster | 2024 | View |
| Global Hiring Index | RemoFirst | Mar to Aug 2026 | View |
| Employment Outlook Survey | ManpowerGroup | Q4 2026 | View |
| Global Talent Shortage | ManpowerGroup | 2026 | View |
| Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, 4th ed. | ILO | 2022 | View |
| First residence permits | Eurostat | 2025 | View |
| EU Blue Cards | Eurostat | 2023 to 2024 | View |
| Immigration system statistics | UK Home Office | Year to Jun 2026 | View |
| Statement of Changes HC 997 | UK Home Office | Jul 2025 | View |
| Immigration Levels Plan 2026 to 2028 | IRCC | 2026 | View |
| Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers | US Department of State | Sep 2025 | View |
| Proclamation extension | The White House | Sep 2026 | View |
| Weighted H-1B selection final rule | DHS, Federal Register | Dec 2025 | View |
| Platform Work Directive (EU) 2024/2831 | EUR-Lex | 2024 | View |
| Pay Transparency Directive (EU) 2023/970 | EUR-Lex | 2023 | View |
| EOR Pricing Index | EmployerRecords | Oct 2026 | View |
Employee leasing law by country
| Country | Main law | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Victoria) | View |
| Austria | Arbeitskräfteüberlassungsgesetz (AÜG) | View |
| Belgium | Law of 24 July 1987, CCT 108 | View |
| Brazil | Lei 6.019/1974 | View |
| Canada | Employment Standards Act 2000 (Ontario) | View |
| China | Interim Provisions on Labour Dispatch 2014 | View |
| Colombia | Decreto 4369 de 2006 | View |
| Czech Republic | Act 435/2004 and Labour Code s309 | View |
| Denmark | Vikarloven (Act 595/2013) | View |
| Finland | Employment Contracts Act 55/2001 | View |
| France | Code du travail L1251 | View |
| Georgia | Labour Code of Georgia | View |
| Germany | Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz (AÜG) s1 | View |
| Hong Kong | Employment Ordinance Part XII | View |
| India | Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 | View |
| Indonesia | Minister of Manpower Regulation 7 of 2026 | View |
| Ireland | Employment Agency Act 1971 | View |
| Israel | Manpower Contractors Law 1996 | View |
| Italy | D.Lgs. 276/2003 and D.Lgs. 81/2015 | View |
| Japan | Worker Dispatch Act | View |
| Mexico | Ley Federal del Trabajo arts 12 to 15 | View |
| Netherlands | Waadi | View |
| New Zealand | Employment Relations Act 2000 | View |
| Norway | Working Environment Act s14-12 | View |
| Philippines | Labor Code arts 106 to 109 | View |
| Poland | Act of 9 July 2003 on temporary workers | View |
| Singapore | Employment Agencies Act 1958 | View |
| South Korea | Act on the Protection of Temporary Agency Workers | View |
| Spain | Ley 14/1994 | View |
| Taiwan | Labor Standards Act | View |
| Thailand | Labour Protection Act 1998 s11/1 (unofficial translation) | View |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 | View |
| United Kingdom | Employment Agencies Act 1973 | View |
| United States | Texas Labor Code ch. 91 (PEO licensing) | View |
| Vietnam | Labour Code 2019 arts 52 to 54 | View |
Cross-border hiring questions, answered with the data
How many companies hire internationally?
No official statistic counts them. The closest measures are platform surveys: 57% of HR professionals surveyed by Oyster planned to hire in another country within 12 months (2025 report). On Deel, cross-border hiring grew 42% in 2024.
What are the most popular countries for cross-border hiring?
The UK and Canada are the only countries on all three platform lists we compared (Deel, Oyster and RemoFirst). The Philippines was Oyster's top destination in 2024 with 9% of new hires, and Europe took 37% to 57% of RemoFirst hires each month from March to August 2026.
Which roles are hired across borders most?
Software developers remain the largest group, at 28% of cross-border hires by top-funded startups in 2025. The fastest growth was in general AI trainer roles, up 283% in 2025, followed by legal case managers (164%) and medical administrative assistants (123%).
Is hiring through an employer of record legal in every country?
EOR arrangements are legal in all 35 countries we checked, but 29 regulate employee leasing by statute. 19 of them add a time cap, a role limit or a ban on core activities, such as Germany's 18-month cap per client and Mexico's ban on staff subcontracting since 2021.
Do I have to pay foreign employees in local currency?
In 15 of the 35 countries we checked, the law requires salaries in local currency. 10 more allow foreign currency only with conditions, such as the employee's agreement in the Netherlands or the UAE.
How much does it cost to hire an employee in another country?
Through an EOR, USD 100 of salary costs between USD 108 and USD 150 across the 35 countries we analysed, with a median of USD 125.6. The total includes statutory employer contributions at a USD 60,000 salary and the median published EOR fee, but not 13th-month pay or holiday bonuses.
How have visa changes affected cross-border hiring?
The US now requires a USD 100,000 payment with new H-1B petitions for workers outside the country, extended to September 2027. UK Skilled Worker grants to main applicants fell 30% in the year to June 2026, and Canada cut its 2026 temporary resident arrivals target to 385,000.
Using this report
You may quote figures from this report with a credit to EmployerRecords.com.
EmployerRecords.com, Cross-Border Hiring Statistics 2026 (Q4 2026 edition). https://employerrecords.com/research/cross-border-hiring-statistics/
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