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Recent years have been full of uncertainties for remote workers and international companies. The work industry is adapting to survive and thrive against unique challenges.
In this scenario, many trends are surging, including AI support, nearshoring, and remote EOR services. They come now that leaders are looking to access foreign talent pools, higher cost-efficiency, and new market expansion.
As 2025 approaches, it’s essential to reflect on the recent key changes and insights. So, let’s examine five aspects of global work today to understand how they will influence the evolution of remote work in the years ahead.
1) AI is remodeling the Global Economy
It’s important to ride this technological wave and be prepared, as a company’s relationship with Artificial intelligence can either make it or break it in the future.
AI Preparedness is already a key index that’s being monitored by the IMF. It covers over 174 countries’ digital infrastructure, human capital and labor market policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation and ethics.
How different regions react to AI implementation can create new bridges or barriers to global collaboration. While advanced economies are expected to be at the forefront of high AI readiness rates, emerging markets can invest in human capital, legal structure, and STEM expertise to pick up the pace and present exclusive international opportunities.
For instance, Malaysia stands out in IMF’s data mapper for AI Preparedness. This developing economy is already boasting a similar rate (0.63) when compared to giants like China (0.64) and the United Arab Emirates (0.63).
2) Nearshoring is transforming outsourcing
Nearshoring is the practice of outsourcing staff to nearby foreign countries. It’s become popular, especially in the Americas. One of the main benefits is getting cost-effective recruitment due to currency conversion, while still working with people in similar timezones to the US and Canada.
Common industries hiring in Latin America include software to service, cyber security, fintech, hospitality, customer support, and health care.
The reconfiguration of the global supply of human capital represents a massive opportunity for nearshoring in LatAm. Countries like Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil offer good conditions, despite being far from the US. Costa Rica and Colombia are among the top countries seeing an increase in U.S. FDI flow, as IMF reports.
Companies are turning to nearshoring for plenty of advantages:
- Work within close time zones
- Similar employee benefits packages
- Candidates’ expertise bar rising
- English proficiency increasing
3) Remote EOR services streamline processes
For companies aiming to hire talent internationally without navigating complex local regulations or struggling to identify top candidates in a new market, remote EOR services provide an excellent solution.
An employer of record (EOR) engages workers on your behalf through its local entities, officially serving as their legal employer under the jurisdiction of the respective country. The EOR handles payroll and oversees other administrative tasks for these employees, who remain under your direct supervision.
Through a service agreement, the EOR ensures full compliance with local labor laws and assumes most of the liability in case of unforeseen compliance issues.
Remote EOR services include:
- Navigate regulatory complexities
- Receive exclusive regional insight
- Get recruitment assistance
- Easily draft compliant contracts
- Streamline onboarding
- Get legal representation
- Receive payroll support
4) International hubs offer hybrid experiences
As more businesses navigate the journey of outsourcing talent, many challenges have also appeared. The adversities of global collaboration include language barriers, asynchronous working, and legal compliance.
So, instead of hiring candidates in many different countries, there is an alternative tendency in international companies to create remote teams based in strategic locations. This strategy seeks to overcome some of the mentioned challenges and create hybrid opportunities.
This could be like setting up a marketing staff in Mexico City or building a tech hub in Dubai. It lets part of a team eventually have in-office training and experiences. Additionally, it becomes easier for other teams’ representatives to travel to this one specific location for in-person exchanges.
Companies can rent on-demand coworking spaces or create strategic small office spots. To better navigate the compliance of the recruitment and onboarding processes, remote EOR services can once again come in handy.
5) Flexible hours are improving work-life balance
It’s easy to see the effects of long working hours and working time arrangements on work-life balance. IMF data shows that over one-third of global workers are still regularly working more than 48 hours per week, which professionals are trying to avoid by going remote.
However, remote settings also bring new work-life balance challenges, as the biggest struggle for work-from-home professionals is to unplug after work hours. So, there’s a need to promote reduced hours of work or offer flexible working time arrangements.
A recurrent solution to this issue is to shift team metrics from fixed work hours expectations to results targets. Leaders can also consider hiring part-time independent contractors for specific projects.
In cases in which there’s a need for around-the-clock customer services, technology comes to the rescue. New AI chatbots allow companies to automatize their contact with customers and let the staff spend their time on scalability or other more critical tasks.
