For North American companies who are planning to hire overseas, the number one question is - where to start? Europe has so many countries speaking various languages, having different cultural backgrounds, and diverse labor laws. All of these factors are making it difficult for foreign employers to launch their European expansion. In this blog, we have selected the top 5 countries to explore for hiring.
Hiring in Germany
Germany is often the #1 country for foreign companies to expand to Europe. It is not only home to several top corporations, but it is also the biggest US trading partner. Furthermore, Germany is the largest, and one of the most developed economies in Europe. Thanks to its advanced technologies, employment laws, and developed labor market it is also interesting from an employment perspective. The unemployment rate is less than 5%.
What sectors are the most prominent in Germany? Finance, research, health services, and automobiles are industries that keep on growing. If you are searching for top talent, you don’t have to worry about the gap between knowledge and practical skills, because it is bridged here.
Last but not least, employment costs in Germany are also manageable. The average salary in Germany is $51.994,56, which is still lower than the wage in the United States. On top of the salary, the employer is responsible for 19-20% of employer taxes, which is a lot lower than other European countries such as Italy, Spain, and France.
- Working hours: 40 hours per week
- Public holidays: 10 days
- Paid vacation leave: 20 days
Hiring in Norway
Known as the happiest country in the world, Norway is also one of the best countries for hiring. The low employment rate, vibrant economic sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and fishery, and great labor laws protecting employees make Norway an ideal destination for foreign expansion.
Even after the pandemic, the job market in Norway is stable and offers skills in agriculture, chemicals, food processing, metals, mining, oil and gas, and textile industries. Top companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Google and Arm are hiring in Norway, with average salary of 585,000 NOK (USD 64,680) and employer taxes of 14.10%.
- Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
- Public holidays: 12 days
- Paid vacation leave: 21 days
Hiring in the Netherlands
Being a European international trade center with an open economy and many nationalities, the Netherlands is one of the most popular countries to hire in. The Netherlands' economy is known for stability, a low unemployment rate, and has a record number of foreign companies that invested in it.
One is sure, if you decide to hire in the Netherlands, you won’t be lacking talent. Even during COVID-19, many foreigners were still working here. The average salary in the Netherlands is $ 56.552,29 and employers are responsible for taxes that are 23.59%.
Since Amsterdam is known as a tech hub in Europe, the top roles foreign companies are hiring in the Netherlands are software engineers and website developers, but also managerial and supervisory roles, as well as educational and tutoring. If you are searching for people in the communication-, sales-, health care-, marketing- or technical industry, hiring in the Netherlands is a great choice.
- Working hours: 38 hours per week
- Public holidays: 10 days (11th every 5 years)
- Paid vacation leave: 20 days
Hiring in Denmark
Denmark is becoming one of the largest economies and one of the best European countries to live in. Its labor market is large enough to handle Denmark's entire working-age population and it keeps growing.
You can find the right match for various vacancies with Denmark's top skills in pharmaceutical, food processing, electronics, furniture, textile, construction, machinery, and shipbuilding. On top of the average annual wage of $57.149,59, employers are paying 14,892 DKK taxes per year (USD 1,981).
- Working hours: 37 hours per week
- Public holidays: 11 days
- Paid vacation leave: 25 days
Hiring in Croatia
Countries in the Balkans are becoming more and more popular for North American companies who are searching for talent abroad, thanks to excellent talent at lower cost than other European countries.
Even though Croatia has a small market size compared to the rest, it is a well-connected hub for several famous companies from the USA. Besides tourism, Croatia’s most prominent and widely operating industries are machinery, equipment, shipbuilding, electricity, wood and furniture, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, chemicals, plastics, textiles, and leather production.
The average annual salary in Croatia was $16,981 in 2020, and the situation didn’t change much in 2022. Additionally, the employer taxes of 16.50% are much lower than some other countries in Europe.
- Working hours: 40 hours per week
- Public holidays: 14 days
- Paid vacation leave: 20 days
Regardless of the European country you pick for your next hiring venture, you will need trusted experts by your side to navigate you through complex labor laws and requirements. That’s why EuroDev is a reliable partner of over 500 North American companies. With EuroDev, you can hire abroad fast without worrying about setting up an entity. You will stay compliant in every European country of your choice, and you will have an excellent team experienced to offer the necessary HR support. Let’s chat about the next steps for your hiring in Europe
About EuroDev
EuroDev, established in 1996 with offices in The Netherlands, has a single, defined purpose to help mid-sized North American companies expand their business in Europe. We have created a proven, successful business development model and since our founding, have partnered with over 500 companies to help them define and meet their European business goals. Services provided include Sales Outsourcing, HR Outsourcing, and Digital Marketing.
Source: Go Global, PRLog
