Six Benefits of Hiring Remote Software Developers in 2022

Much of the talent market is showing desire for remote work environments. Data collected in 2022 showed that many developers were willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for working from home.?

If you haven’t formally adopted a remote or hybrid model, and aren’t sure if you should, it can be hard to determine what’s right for you. Leaders at companies like Tesla and Slack have been incredibly vocal about their stances (which sit at opposite ends of the spectrum).?

But the reality is, we live in an increasingly interconnected world. Future pandemics may be inevitable. Our rapidly warming climate could be mitigated in part with a reduction in commuter traffic. And clear research demonstrating employee happiness and well-being with remote work support a more permanent transition to remote working models.?

If you aren’t convinced that a remote model is right for you, here are six reasons you should consider hiring remote developers in 2022.?

1. You’ll be More Able to Attract Quality Candidates

According to data from Buffer, as many as 97% of currently remote employees wish to remain at least partially remote for the duration of their career. In the U.S., we’re in the middle of one of the largest talent gaps in history. It’s estimated that, for every five open developer positions, there’s one candidate to fill it.?

This has shifted the power in some ways to the candidate, who have more options when considering their next role. High-performing candidates may decline offers from companies simply on the basis of being required in office, because they know they can secure a remote role with the same or similar pay to one that’s remote.?

Offering a remote role may now be a requirement if you want to compete for top-tier talent.

2. Larger Talent Pools

Remote models open up other benefits, too. A major one in the global economy is opening up an international talent pool. This means you can vet candidates who are a better fit for your role, instead of competing for a limited pool of local developers.?

What’s more, it helps you “shop around” and find the right price point and ability, considering a variability in cost of living (and thus salary expectations) globally. For example, we’ve found that there’s a sweet spot in placing Latin American developers with US companies – the price is right and there’s a lot of experienced talent there, all in an overlapping timezone.

3. Cost Savings

Especially in metro regions, office space and related expenses add up for an organization. Even when paying freelancers a higher hourly rate to make up for costs they have to cover themselves - their workspace, benefits, long-term savings, and so forth – it regularly nets out to lower costs for the client.?

As of June 2022, 6 of 10 employers report cost savings as a major benefit to remote and hybrid models. It’s estimated that companies save an average of $10,000 per employee per year in real estate and related costs with a fully remote policy. While the amount saved will depend on a company’s overall head count, revenue, and the working model they adopt, the data is clear. Corporations like IBM, McKesson, and McKinsey report millions in annual savings simply by avoiding costly relocations and leasing office space.?

4. Increased flexibility for employers on short-term projects

A less-often discussed benefit for employers is flexibility, especially with respect to short-term projects and consulting arrangements. It’s easy to hire short-term contractors through a staff augmentation company that brings staff on for a well-defined project until its completion, and then release or reduce the hours of your contractors without having to worry about finding another place or project for them in your organization. The commitment of adding staff becomes much less daunting.

5. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Research conducted during the pandemic showed that remote work significantly reduced GHG emissions, even taking into account an increase in residential emissions. Transportation generates approximately 14% of global GHG emissions; in 2020 alone, remote working reduced commuting emissions by 97%.?

According to the United Nations, this major behavioral shift has the potential to transform societies and reduce emissions, slowing global warming by a significant margin. If, as a collective society, we are to halt global warming and avoid the most severe effects of climate change, transitioning to renewable energy, sustainable transport, and building efficiency won’t be enough. Shifting human behavior is critical.?

It’s my belief that, as an employer in a sector that doesn’t require on-site employers, we have a responsibility to consider the broader implications of the working models we choose for our companies. Allowing employees to work from home might seem like a small decision that affects only our company. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Our decision to allow remote work has monumental positive benefits for our collective global society.?

5. Improved productivity

Particularly in the software, IT, and finance industries, productivity seems to increase. A 30,000-person study during the pandemic showed that there was a 5% increase in productivity when employees worked from home. What’s more, employees were 22% happier. While happiness doesn’t immediately seem like it corresponds to increased productivity, there’s a clear link. Employees that are happier are more likely to stay in jobs longer, decreasing the cost of hiring and training new staff.

Why it’s the right time to consider remote, distributed teams

By this point, the benefits of remote work should be clear. There’s an overall cost savings to an organization, paired with a boost in productivity – two things that give a company an edge over its competitors. In an evolving landscape, it’s also clear that being remote-first or at least offering remote working arrangements is necessary for an organization to hire software developers and remain resilient through challenging times.