A Global Tension Shaping the Digital Economy
The shortage of IT talent has become a global challenge. Today, digital transformation relies on the availability of rare profiles, and the numbers speak for themselves: according to Korn Ferry, more than 85 million technology jobs will be missing by 2030. This shortage affects all tech roles: Software Engineers, Cloud Experts, Cybersecurity Specialists, Business Developers, and Data Scientists.
This scarcity of talent drives up salaries and fuels international competition between countries. The United States is leading this battle thanks to its economic power and its capacity for international recruitment, making the search for technology roles a strategic pillar of its growth.
The United States: A Saturated Market but Still Expanding
With more than 9 million IT jobs, the U.S. market concentrates the most in-demand roles. Global digital transformation amplifies this trend, and large companies can no longer train enough local talent.
Three factors structure this phenomenon:
Technological Leadership
San Francisco embodies innovation in artificial intelligence. Startups and tech giants are constantly looking for talent. In Silicon Valley, the shortage affects every tech role and causes salary inflation. Recruitment is global: the best international profiles are drawn to San Francisco to strengthen technology teams.
New York is the heart of FinTech and digital health. Data and Cybersecurity roles are booming. Each recruited talent contributes to the digital transformation of a rapidly evolving sector. Salaries are aligned with those in San Francisco, and international recruitment remains essential.
Seattle, the capital of the cloud, is home to Amazon and Microsoft. Global digital transformation projects create high demand for tech roles. Recruitment is constant, and more international professionals are settling in Seattle.
Massive Investments
In Austin, a hub for semiconductors, Tesla and Oracle are strengthening their IT teams. Every talent contributes to accelerating digital transformation. International recruitment in Austin compensates for the local shortage and drives up salaries in tech roles.
In Boston, a major cybersecurity hub, universities and companies build a rich ecosystem of opportunities. Local talent is insufficient, and hiring international profiles has become the norm. Global digital transformation creates constant demand here.
In Miami, the new FinTech stronghold, blockchain startups attract talent from around the world. Salaries for tech roles are competitive. International recruitment in Miami reflects a strategy of openness toward technology professionals.
Global Digital Transformation: every sector (MedTech, HealthTech, FinTech, Energy, Aerospace) now depends on the availability of talent. Strategic IT roles have become geopolitical assets, and salaries reflect this importance.
How the United States Attracts International Talent
American companies leverage several strategies for international recruitment to address the shortage:
- San Francisco continues to attract internationals with its AI projects. Recruitment is ongoing.
- New York relies on FinTech and health startups to attract technology professionals from across the globe.
- Seattle benefits from Microsoft and Amazon, which expand international IT recruitment policies.
- Austin and Boston rely on universities and R&D centers to train and attract talent.
- Miami is emerging as a hub for blockchain and digital tech, appealing to international profiles with competitive salaries.
Visa programs like H-1B remain essential for international recruitment in tech roles. Each new talent joining the U.S. helps strengthen its IT leadership.
IT Salaries: Comparing the United States and Europe
The intensity of U.S. demand has a direct impact on salaries:
- In the United States, tech roles pay 30 to 40% more than in Europe.
- In Europe, pressure from international competition has driven IT salaries up 20% in three years.
- Companies like Capgemini and SAP must adjust their recruitment to retain talent against offers from San Francisco, New York, or Seattle.
👉 This comparison highlights how global digital transformation and technology roles have become strategic levers.
What Strategies Can Resist This International Competition?
Facing U.S. dominance, Europe must adapt its practices:
- Train rather than chase: invest in reskilling for tech roles to reduce reliance on international recruitment.
- Focus on cultural differentiation: offer more than high salaries to attract and retain talent.
- Build collaborative ecosystems: connect universities, governments, and businesses around technology roles.
- Develop nearshoring: diversify recruitment in nearby regions while continuing to collaborate with internationals.
Rethinking the Global Map of IT Talent
The talent shortage is reshaping the global economy. The U.S. maintains its lead with San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Austin, Boston, and Miami, but Europe and Asia are striving to increase their IT attractiveness.
The central question is no longer just recruiting technology professionals, but retaining international talent in a highly competitive digital transformation context.
Conclusion: Bessand, a Trusted Partner for International Recruitment
In this context of scarce talent, rising salaries, and unprecedented international competition, companies need strategic support.
Bessand, a firm specialized in international recruitment for tech roles, helps organizations identify and retain strategic profiles. Whether in San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Austin, Boston, or Miami, we turn the challenges of global digital transformation into sustainable opportunities.
👉 Our mission: to connect talent with technology roles and make international recruitment a lever for competitiveness.
