Prior to the pandemic, outsourcing and collaborating with companies overseas was less common that it is today. Remote jobs, however, opened up a new world of opportunities for software developers. The lack of in-person jobs due to restrictions and safety standards forced them to search for jobs online. No one expected the magnitude of positive responses to this form of hiring.
As industries settled into working with employees remotely, a pattern began to surface. Highly talented and experienced developers were found across the world but most notably in Eastern Europe. Statistics showed that countries like Ukraine, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic were producing quality developers compared to other countries. Due to this, major corporations began to expand to these countries. Some of these companies include:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- IBM
- HP
Why Hire Developers from Eastern Europe?
Several factors determined why businesses were outsourcing developers from Europe. They were able to speak and understand English well. The majority of companies looking for developers originated in the United States or European Union where English is the primary language. Quality of services, creative thinking, and adaptability to using different software are among other benefits. Additionally, the rates charged by developers in Eastern Europe proved to be more reasonable than their competitors.
In Eastern Europe alone, the IT industry contains over 1 million software developers. A demand for outsourcing in this area has led to that increase alongside an impressive education system. High STEM standards are combined with hands-on experience to create qualified individuals. Countries like Ukraine see an average of over 15,000 graduates a year. Belarus, Poland, and Bucharest have universities with similar numbers. These and many more European countries receive high places in the QS World University Rankings as well.
Major Corporations Have Settled There
Noticing a trend early on, major corporations such as those previously listed (i.e. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM) established locations there. They also built education centers to keep developers in Eastern Europe current on the latest software and technologies. This encourages competition in the development market. Being able to put together whole teams of highly-experienced software developers from these countries sustains those corporations as pioneers in their industries.
The talent pool of developers is still diverse. While Eastern Europe may be a hotspot, a reliance on steadily-increasing numbers of remote jobs helps competing businesses and job seekers gain attention in other areas.
Summary
The standards set in Eastern Europe are well worth the developers that come out of a solid education system which values practical applications. Other countries are slowly following in their footsteps. Nonetheless, countries in Eastern Europe don’t account for all software developers in demand. Jobs in software development, cybersecurity, and more have not declined. Technological advances create weaknesses and need to be updated constantly. New software programs are also being created every year.
Current understanding and applications of technology will shift rapidly as the world settles into a hybrid work system. They have done so for the past year and decades before that. Therefore, hiring developers with a solid knowledge of how the industry works is perhaps one of the most important criteria every business should have.