Why Hire Workers from Chile?

Once dubbed “Chilecon Valley,” Chile is more than an emerging talent hub—it’s a thriving region for technology professionals. Latin America as a whole has become a force in the global tech industry. Now, 156% more businesses want to hire in the region, particularly for software engineering roles. 

Why are so many organizations hiring workers from Chile?

Let’s take a look at all the country has to offer.

Strong Educational Foundation

Chile has been at the forefront of educational investment in Latin America. The government spends 5.4% of its GDP on education, more than the average for other countries in the region.

In 2023, Chile launched the Educational Reactivation Plan. The goals of the initiative included assisting and reengaging students who had been excluded from the system, strengthening learning and teaching conditions, coexistence and mental health, and the creation of the Council for Educational Reactivation. 

The Plan is just one example of Chile’s dedication to education. The country has also been prioritizing computer science education, as evidenced by the Ministry of Education’s National Plan for Digital Languages. The Plan was created to increase the number of students focusing on CS and related fields.

Chile is investing in holistic STEM education, too. Two universities, in particular, have emphasized preparation for secondary school STEM teachers: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV). 

Thanks to these and other initiatives, Chile has a well-educated population, with strong proficiency in technology and other fields. 

Cost Efficiency

The cost of living is significantly lower in Chile than in the U.S. This translates to cost-effectiveness. 

The estimated total monthly pay for a software engineer in Santiago, Chile is 2,366,667 CLP. This is equivalent to $2,425.61 USD/month, or $29,107.32 USD/year. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the estimated total pay is $161,575/year.

While cost shouldn’t be the sole determining factor, it does play a role in the hiring process. You’ll receive high-quality results at competitive rates. 

Timezone and Language Alignment

Continental Chile is in GMT-3, 1–2 hours ahead of EST and 4-5 hours of PST depending on the time of year. That means you’ll have overlapping business hours with Chilean workers. You’ll be able to collaborate in real-time, meet via videoconferencing platforms, and communicate more effectively. 

Chile is also one of the higher-ranking Latin American countries for English proficiency (seven out of 20) and comes in at no. 47 among 116 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index. English skills are emphasized in the country—the language is required in Chilean primary and secondary schools. 

Having a shared language makes communication and collaboration much easier and prevents project hiccups.

Diversity and Innovation

Chile’s culture of diversity and innovation fosters critical thinkers and problem-solvers. For example, an increasing number of startups are founded in Chile, exemplifying the country’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Start-Up Chile, established by the Chilean government in 2010, supports projects from 85 countries. The goal of the startup accelerator is to foster entrepreneurship in Chile and help it thrive as a hub of innovation. Now, it’s one of the most successful startup accelerators in the world. 

Chile is also prioritizing the representation of women and minorities in the tech sector and beyond. Take the University of Santiago de Chile. The institution began a teacher-training initiative to improve the participation of women in STEM. The objective of the initiative is to ensure women and girls have equal access to STEM education and careers

Tapping into a diverse workforce means gains for your business, too. You’ll bring a wealth of perspectives, leading to greater creativity and stronger results.

Government and Infrastructure Support

A strong infrastructure helps equip workers with the tools necessary for thriving across fields.

The Chilean Government introduced Chile Digital 2035 in May 2022. The strategy aims to reduce digital inequality, facilitate infrastructure development, and improve cybersecurity, all toward the goal of boosting digital transformation. The larger objective is to digitize public services 100% by 2035. 

Chile has been focusing on holistic efforts to improve cybersecurity and enhance digital measures. The Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure bill was introduced in the Chilean Senate in March 2022, outlining regulatory standards to protect institutions against cyberattacks. The country also boasts the highest penetration of mobile connections in Latin America.

Why Hire Workers from Chile?

A leading country for innovation and creativity—both in Latin America and globally—Chile offers a well-educated, diverse, and highly skilled population of workers. With its growing and increasingly impactful role as a top producer of talent in the tech sphere and beyond, the country is an excellent source of talent for businesses across sectors.