As companies face mounting pressure to balance costs with tech talent acquisition, Latin America (LATAM) has emerged as an increasingly attractive solution for U.S. businesses, according to research from Deloitte and Randstad.
The appeal begins with simple geography. Unlike with traditional offshoring to Asia, Latin America offers time zone alignment that enables real-time collaboration. According to DevSavant CEO Daniel Peña, a manageable time zone differential and the proximity to major U.S. cities make meetings and travel practical, fostering stronger working relationships.
He says this advantage is particularly valuable for companies in scale and growth mode, especially during M&A and startup situations. This shift represents more than just a cost-cutting measure, says Peña; it’s a strategic reimagining of how companies can build their technical workforce in the modern era.
LATAM’s tech talent strengths
Research from Deloitte reveals the region’s substantial technical foundation. Latin America has developed a robust technical talent pool, with Brazil and Mexico alone hosting over 2.2 million software engineering professionals. The pipeline continues to grow, with these countries producing more than 350,000 new engineering graduates annually.
Particularly noteworthy is the region’s expertise in cloud-native technologies: Deloitte cites that over half of Mexico’s engineers specialize in critical roles like full-stack development, back-end, front-end, cloud and mobile engineering.
“We have seen major international employers—including global technology, retail and consumer goods, banking, manufacturing and automotive companies—take action to establish an engineering presence in LATAM markets such as Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Brazil,” wrote Deloitte researchers.
The cultural dynamics are equally compelling, according to Randstad’s 2025 Workmonitor. Latin American talent demonstrates an exceptional commitment to professional growth, with 50% prioritizing AI training—higher than other global regions. They also show strong trust in their employers for professional development, a measure exceeding the global average.
The workforce in Latin America also exhibits strong ethical standards and professional values, Randstad reports. More than half of workers express a desire to align with companies that share their social and environmental values. They’ve shown they’re willing to act on these principles, with 54% having left toxic workplaces—a higher rate than other regions.
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