Chile Talent Market Overview

Market Appeal:Chile’s IT sector is growing rapidly, with a market expected to grow by $3.9 billion from 2022-2027.
Most common roles US companies hire in Chile:Chile’s IT sector includes AI integration, digital information, and IT services like education, training, consulting, development, integration, and hardware/software support
Skill Density:The country has 100k tech professionals and 4,000+ companies involved in software services, making it a significant hub for tech talent in Latin America
Cost Advantage of hiring in Chile:The average salary for software engineers in Chile is 50-60% less than those in the U.S. The average salary in Chile typically falls below levels seen in other South American nations like Mexico
Ease of Hire:Chile is ranked #1 in LATAM for ease of business, creating a favorable environment for tech hiring
Working Hours Overlap with US time zones:Chile is located in GMT-4, the same as EST, allowing up to 8 hours of overlap with U.S. companies
Typical Working Week in ChileIn 2024, the weekly schedule will be 44 hours, in 2026, it will be 42 hours, and by 2028, it will reach the intended 40 hours per week.
Public and Local Holidays in Chile17 public holidays
Most common talent hiring / engaging methods that US companies use in ChileHiring in Chile is facilitated by various methods, including contracting, staff augmentation, and Employer of Record (EOR) service
The most common payment methods that US companies use to pay talent in ChilePopular payment methods include Parallax, bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, Stripe, and Skrill. These methods are chosen for their ease of use, security, and speed of transaction processing, especially for international payment
Cultural Compatibility with US companiesWhen hiring tech talent in Chile, US companies benefit from high English proficiency, particularly in Santiago, and cultural similarities such as professional work ethics and a focus on quality outcomes.
English level by EF EPI score in ChileChile is Above the global average. It was ranked 52nd out of 113 countries.
Average Retention Rates in ChileChile was ranked as the highest Latin American country for employee retention
Global brands that hire in ChileMicrosoft, JPMorgan Chase & Co
Talent Market Capacity100k tech professionals, including 60k software engineers
EMPLOYER TAXES

Tech Talent Market Capacity

Chile Infrastructure:

Internet Connectivity:

As of 2023, internet has become a crucial part of Chilean society, with approximately 17.69 million people, or 90.2% of the national population, having access to an internet connection​​.

This figure aligns with the reported 17.7 million internet users in Chile in the same year, marking a substantial increase of about 7.6 million online users over the previous decade​​.

The Chilean government has introduced a comprehensive plan, focusing on areas without connectivity and aiming to bridge the digital gap. This plan includes multisectoral work with a focus on regulation for connectivity, digital infrastructure, and ensuring connectivity for everyone​​.

Mobile Penetration:

Chile boasts the highest penetration of mobile connections in the region, with a staggering 147% rate or 28.84 million cellular mobile connections​​.

This high rate of mobile penetration is reflective of the widespread adoption of mobile technology in the country, significantly exceeding the total population count.

Download and Upload Speeds on Mobile Networks:

For mobile network experience, the fastest overall experience in Chile is observed on WOM’s network, with average download speeds of 24.5Mbps and upload speeds of 8.8Mbps

Chilean Salary Insights

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Common Leave in Chile

Paid time off: 15 days of paid annual leave

Maternity leave: 18 weeks of paid maternity leave

Paternity leave: 14 calendar days of paid paternity leave

Common Benefits in Chile

Meal Vouchers

Health Insurance

Flexible/Remote Work

Life insurance

Holiday schedule in Chile 2024

This page contains a national calendar of all 2024 public holidays. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates.
  • Monday, January 1, 2024
    New Year’s Day
  • Monday, January 8, 2024
    Epiphany Holiday
  • Friday, March 29, 2024
    Good Friday
  • Saturday, March 30, 2024
    Easter Saturday
  • Wednesday, May 1, 2024
    Labour Day
  • Tuesday, May 21, 2024
    Navy Day
  • Thursday, June 20, 2024
    National Day of Indigenous Peoples
  • Saturday, June 29, 2024
    Feast of St Peter and St Paul
  • Tuesday, July 16, 2024
    Our Lady of Mount Carmel
  • Thursday, August 15, 2024
    Assumption Day
  • Wednesday, September 18, 2024
    Independence Day
  • Thursday, September 19, 2024
    Army Day
  • Monday, October 14, 2024
    Day of the Race
  • Thursday, October 31, 2024
    Reformation Day
  • Friday, November 1, 2024
    All Saints’ Day
  • Sunday, December 8, 2024
    Immaculate Conception
  • Wednesday, December 25, 2024
    Christmas Day

Payments

In Chile, tech talent typically use a mix of local and international payment methods: Bank Transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Western Union, Payoneer and also Cryptocurrencies.

Payment Frequency: Typically, payments are made monthly.

Talent Acquisition

Hiring developers in Chile can be more cost-effective than in regions like the U.S. and Europe. The average salaries for top developers in Chile are significantly lower than their U.S. counterparts for various programming languages and platforms. For example, a Python developer in the U.S. might earn between $175,000 – $195,000, while in Chile, the range is $68,000 – $96,000. Similarly, for JavaScript, the U.S. range is $165,000 – $185,000 compared to Chile’s $63,000 – $90,000

Job Search Platforms: Popular platforms for job seekers in Chile include Computrabajo, Indeed, Chiletrabajos, Trabajando, and Empleospublicos.cl. These platforms are ranked by traffic and engagement, reflecting their popularity and effectiveness in connecting job seekers with potential employers.

Talent Acquisition: Companies like GoGloby.io play a crucial role in sourcing talent in Chile. They focus on aligning the recruitment process with the specific skills and characteristics needed for team members. Such companies often provide additional support and services like customer service managers and cloud-based platforms for better recruitment management

Interview Behavior:

Probation Period: The probation period is 90 days. ​

Working Culture in Chile

Shared Cultural Similarities: Latin America, including Chile, shares cultural similarities with North America and Europe, which is conducive to collaboration. For instance, there is a shared emphasis on professional work ethics, respect for deadlines, and a focus on high-quality outcomes. Additionally, Latin American professionals often display a strong entrepreneurial spirit, adaptability, and a proactive approach, aligning well with the dynamic nature of the tech industry​​.

Working Culture in Chile: The business culture in Chile is formal and conservative. Appearance, status, and respect play crucial roles. Business structures are hierarchical, with decisions typically made at the top levels. It’s common for meetings to begin with top-level executives​​.

Cultural Compatibility: Chileans prioritize building long-lasting, trustworthy personal relationships in business. Meetings often start with polite social talk, focusing on an associate’s personal life and family. Business is conducted between individuals rather than companies, and thus, concluding business can take time. Patience and investment in relationship-building are key​​.

Relationships: Building strong relationships is important in Chilean business culture. Having a ‘pituto’, a network or connection, can be beneficial for getting connected with others and sharing information​​.

Time & Punctuality: It’s important to be punctual for meetings. However, getting down to business might take time, and it’s common for work hours to be extended to accommodate this. Patience is advised when waiting for responses or discussing matters in person

Employment Termination in Chile

Termination process:

Employees can be terminated with just cause, for reasons such as dishonesty, negligence, fraud, or any other work-related offenses, and although the managerial staff can be dismissed at will, a severance package is mandated by law.

Notification Period Guidelines:

An employer must provide at least 30 days’ notice of an employee’s termination.

Severance pay:

Employees dismissed for business reasons (e.g., redundancy) are entitled to a severance package equivalent to a month’s wages, while employees guilty of violating their contract or other serious offenses won’t be entitled to severance pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Regarding the quality of tech talent in Chile compared to the U.S., Chile is recognized for its significant technological growth, especially in the tech sector, earning the nickname “Chilecon Valley.” The country’s programmers are highly skilled and well-educated, with a strong presence in software development. Five Chilean universities are ranked in the top 30 in Latin America, and 95% of computer science graduates find employment within a year. Chilean developers excel in areas such as statistical programming, computer programming, data analysis, and mobile development. Moreover, their English proficiency is high, facilitating seamless collaboration with U.S. companies.

Chile’s employment models include Contract, Acts on Work at Home and Remote Work, a shortened workday, extended paternity leave, and gender equality initiatives

In Chile, tech talent typically use a mix of local and international payment methods: Bank Transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Western Union, Payoneer and also Cryptocurrencies.