The role of software development in our economy has grown significantly, and countries like the US, China, and India are often cited as dominant forces in this field. However, in recent times, Eastern European countries have become crucial players by providing a wealth of software engineers with impressive skills. As a result, eminent tech firms such as Microsoft, IBM, and Google are actively seeking services from Eastern Europe to fulfil their programming requirements.
Opting for professional IT services offered by Eastern European computer programmers is highly advantageous due to their fluency in English and location within a more favourable time zone. Additionally, their services come at a significantly lower cost when compared to the pricing in the United States and Western Europe.
Exploring the numerous incentives for your enterprise to employ remote developers from Eastern Europe.How to recruit software engineers in eastern Europe？
The Key Factors Contributing to the Proficiency of Eastern Europeans in Coding
Silicon Valley is reputed to be a centre of technological brilliance, with numerous accomplished programmers competing for positions at major tech corporations like Facebook, Google, and Apple. However, the outcome of the coding ability test conducted by HackerRank shows that developers from Washington and Wyoming scored the highest, while the Silicon Valley region of California came in third.
The United States lags behind other countries in hiring and utilizing highly skilled engineers well-versed in industry-standard software development methodologies. Studies indicate that Eastern European developers possess comparable or even superior skills to their western counterparts.
Let us dissect the top three reasons endorsing the hiring of remote talent from these countries.
The Software Engineering Industry in Eastern Europe: A Survey
1. The Rapid Growth of the IT Industry
According to a Software Development Report, Ukraine alone has employed about 175,000 individuals in the IT industry. Moreover, with over 23,000 skilled and enthusiastic college graduates available, the number of Eastern European programmers is predicted to increase each year. Additionally, Poland’s IT sector has increased in size at a rate three times that of India, with foreign firms now employing 160,000 software developers from the region. To promote the growth of the IT industry, Eastern European governments are offering benefits and incentives to IT firms and entrepreneurs.
Around 54,000 IT specialists are working in 193 countries worldwide, originating from Belarus. To entice cross-border collaboration and the creation of new businesses, the area has implemented a distinct tax system. Ukraine has also introduced comparable measures to attract IT professionals and corporations. In Poland, executives are proposing tax cuts to encourage IT companies to move to their jurisdiction.
2. Training in Emerging Technologies
Eastern Europe’s economic prospects stretch far beyond the IT sector, with some of the world’s top technical institutions located in the region. These include the National Technical University of Ukraine “KPI,” the AGH University of Science and Technology in Poland, the POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, and the Warsaw University of Technology. Each year, these schools produce between 1,300 and 2,200 software development experts. Additionally, events like the Wolves Summit and IT Arena offer Eastern European developers the chance to acquire new abilities and keep up with the latest developments in technology and digital literacy from around the world.
3. Excellent English Proficiency
Eastern European countries have the highest levels of English proficiency, with reported literacy rates of 99.4 percent. Furthermore, many graduates in these nations have a good command of multiple languages. According to the English Proficiency Index, Poland is ranked tenth in the world for its English language skills.
Benefits of Recruiting Programmers from Eastern Europe
- Digital Environment
- Eastern European nations frequently perform well in global coding competitions.
- Wide Range of Available Skill Sets
- Time Zone Advantage
- Budget and Salary Scale
There are several advantages to hiring Eastern European programmers, aside from their impressive skill sets.
Information Technology Ecosystem
The Information Technology industry in Eastern Europe is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. Romania, with an estimated 116,100 software developers, has 6 developers per 1,000 residents, while Poland has an impressive 279,800 software engineers, despite Ukraine having only 4 developers per 1,000 individuals. As a result, it may be advantageous to consider remote hiring in this region to address the paucity of software engineers.
Competitive Coding Prowess of Eastern European Nations
Significant investments in technology education and masterclasses have facilitated Eastern European programmers’ remarkable skill sets in the coding industry. Higher education provides a strong foundation in programming fundamentals, followed by programmes and tech centres, such as Lviv IT School, that help refine their abilities. As a result, programmers hailing from Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Moldova frequently achieve excellent results in international coding competitions. These developers are also highly regarded on platforms like Hackerrank and TopCoder for web and custom software development.
An Abundance of Prospective Employees
Eastern Europe has a pool of around 5.7 million skilled IT professionals, making it a highly desirable choice for businesses seeking talented candidates. The region also has some of the highest rates of female representation in IT conferences and STEM fields. Albania, for instance, has a 33% female participation rate in the IT workforce, while Lithuania and Romania also have notable levels of female participation.
Time Zone
Synchronising time zones is crucial for remote teams as it may be difficult to establish a successful collaborative environment that incorporates both synchronous and asynchronous processes with staff spread across various time zones. When hiring remotely, Eastern Europe can be a viable option due to its comparatively favourable working hours vis-a-vis Western Europe (where there is a minimal time gap of 1-3 hours). Furthermore, the time difference between the East and West Coasts of the USA is significantly shorter on the West Coast, being approximately 7-10 hours. Lastly, in times of pandemic, travel to Eastern Europe is generally safer and more accessible to organise than trips to destinations such as India.
Salary and Budget Constraints
Hiring programmers from Eastern Europe may provide a more beneficial budget and salary arrangement. For instance, IT workers in the US who earn an annual salary increase of $71,342 can expect a sum of $30,000 in Ukraine and $20,000 in Hungary. Additionally, remote hiring helps to lower expenses associated with relocation and visa application fees.
Below is a brief chart presenting essential details about Eastern European technology hubs, programmer populations, salary ranges, spoken languages, and other pertinent facts.
Where in Europe would software developers be the most productive, in your opinion?
As per the Skill Value analysis of 2023, which examined more than 550 technical evaluations, the top 10 countries for locating software developers seem to be in Europe.
This survey indicates that Eastern Europe has five countries in the top ten for software professionals. Can you elaborate on why these particular five nations are highly suitable for recruiting software professionals?
Locating the Top Coders in Eastern Europe
Slovakia
Over the last decade, Slovakia has emerged as a pioneer in software development, owing primarily to the nation’s extensive computer usage and the fact that 92% of IT industry staff are native English speakers. These factors have established Slovakia as a centre for software development expertise.Poland
The number of programmers in Poland is estimated to be around 250,000, with the country’s computer industry comprising over 29% of total employment. In 2020, the IT sector’s revenue in Poland was reported to be $11.79 billion, projected to rise to $12.1 billion by 2023.Hungary
Software development accounts for roughly 6% of Hungary’s Gross Domestic Product, with the sector employing about 80,100 people. Additionally, around 2,700 Hungarians finish their high school education each year. Moreover, according to the Hungary IT Report, it is anticipated that the IT services market in Hungary will expand by an estimated $993 million in 2021.Ukraine
By 2023, it is anticipated that there will be roughly 20,000 software engineers in Ukraine. The IT sector in Ukraine is poised to generate $5 billion in revenue in 2023, growing at an average annual rate of 26%. The significant increase is anticipated to result from the significant investments made in the country’s technical educational institutions. Software developers in Ukraine can anticipate an annual remuneration of around $30,000.Czech Republic
The IT sector in the Czech Republic employs around 155,000 people and has a total industry worth of roughly $3 billion annually. Over 180 service providers operate in the country, with most located in Prague. This presents an excellent opportunity for companies to locate skilled software developers proficient in the English language.Romania
The Romanian government implemented tax breaks for companies that offered software development services. This resulted in a rapid expansion of the IT industry in Romania, with multinational corporations like Microsoft, Ericsson, HP, and Huawei entering the market. Currently, over 100,000 IT professionals work with the country’s 20,000 firms, with an average of 7,000 university students pursuing technology degrees each year.
What is the Average Salary for Developers in Eastern Europe?
When hiring employees, it might be more economical to seek candidates from more developed economies, such as the US or Northern Europe, since wages in these areas are generally lower. Although it is frequently assumed that cheaper indicates lower quality, there are other factors to consider when recruiting developers from Eastern Europe.
As a starting point, the cost of living in Eastern Europe is generally less expensive than in the United States. This is demonstrated by the lower monthly expenditures incurred by individuals in areas such as healthcare, property rental or purchase, food, and tax legislation in comparison to those in Western Europe. Typically, developers in Eastern Europe receive an annual compensation ranging from $35,958 to $41,170, as opposed to an average salary of $68,543 in the United States.
It is important to note that these values are only approximations. Compensation levels may differ significantly based on the individual’s abilities, duties, and working conditions. Python and JavaScript, two of the most commonly employed programming languages, provide a helpful illustration of this. On average, Python developers in Ukraine can anticipate earning $27,780, compared to $43,299 for those in the Czech Republic. Similarly, JavaScript engineers in the Czech Republic can earn $40,000 (the highest in Europe), whereas those in Ukraine earn $26,400 (the lowest). It is essential to keep in mind that compensation may be influenced by location and field of expertise.
How to Effectively Find and Employ Eastern European Computer Programmers?
Outlined below are four of the most efficient methods to recruit and onboard developers in Eastern Europe to work remotely:
1. Explore Freelance Websites
While these websites can be advantageous for finding developers for temporary or project-based work, if you are looking to hire committed staff members who can assimilate effortlessly into your company’s culture, it is best to avoid these potentially complex platforms.
In this article, we will discuss the five best locations to discover and recruit freelance programmers from Eastern Europe.
- Upwork
- Works
- Arc.dev
- MoonLightWork
- Gun.io
2. Browse Online Job Boards
If your intention is to hire a developer promptly, the following alternatives may be worth considering. Potential candidates can contact your company directly. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that there is no assessment procedure in place, and you may find yourself conducting interviews with countless unsuitable candidates, resulting in both time and money being wasted.
Listed below are the five best online resources for finding remote programming jobs:
- RemoteOK
- Our Company Utilizes a Distributed Workforce.
- Remote.co Website
- Nomads with Jobs Platform
- Jobspresso
3. Using Third-Party Platforms
Competent programmers are now using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to find job opportunities. It is fairly simple to identify those who are jobless in a particular location or company, however, it can be a time-consuming process.
In addition, you could explore developer communities such as:
- GitHub
- StackOverflow
- Meetup.com Website
4. Employers Who Recruit International Workers
Opting for a full-time remote job may be a favorable choice if you intend to establish a long-standing partnership and expand your workforce. These companies do not confine their search for top programmers to a particular area, rather they look globally for the most skilled experts. This enables you to locate the ideal technical personnel for your enterprise, a person who aligns with your organization’s values and standards.
If you prefer to conduct your search remotely, take a look at these reputable recruitment agencies:
- Reintech
- YouTeam
- Nomads with Jobs Platform
- RemoteHub
- Works
Our firm is the final remote agency on the list, concentrating on IT recruitment for remote positions. Over the past ten years, we have effectively matched employers with the finest IT experts, handling various details such as evaluating qualifications, time zones, language proficiency, and cultural compatibility. Can you describe your ideal job candidate? With our extensive headhunting approach, we can identify and introduce the most promising candidates to you within two weeks.
