Expanding your business is exciting, but it also comes with big decisions—especially around people. One of the most important is how to tap into a global workforce. With more companies hiring talent across borders than ever before, leaders need to understand what an international workforce is, how it works, and why it matters for long-term growth.
According to Gartner, 58% of organizations now employ borderless technology talent—a testament to how global talent hiring is no longer peripheral, but integral to modern operations. In this blog, we'll break down the basics, share five strategic insights for leaders, and show how Employer of Record (EOR) companies like Atlas HXM make it easier to hire, manage, and retain international talent.
What Is a Global Workforce?
A global workforce is a labor pool made up of employees, contractors, and other professionals working for the same company—but based all over the world. It can include:
Expatriates: employees sent abroad for short- or long-term assignments.
Remote workers: professionals working outside a traditional office, often from home or coworking spaces.
Independent contractors: project-based talent who bring specialized skills.
Seasonal and short-term workers: hired for time-sensitive needs like tourism, agriculture, or short projects.
Supported employees: individuals hired through international EOR service providers that act as the legal employer.
Digital nomads: traveling professionals balancing work and lifestyle.
Platform workers: gig-economy talent like delivery or rideshare drivers.
For leaders, an international workforce is about more than just filling roles. It's about building resilient, diverse teams that can adapt quickly to global market demands. Nearly 71% of employers plan to expand their global workforce in 2025, indicating that international hiring is rapidly becoming a standard business strategy.
Why Leaders Are Hiring a Global Workforce
So, why are so many organizations hiring across borders? Here are a few of the benefits:
Access to Global Talent: 56% of employers say finding qualified candidates is their biggest obstacle, pushing them to look across borders for skilled workers.
Competitive Advantage: A diverse global worker base brings new perspectives and local insights. This gives companies an edge when expanding into new markets, designing better products, or reaching international customers.
Lower Costs: Global workforce staffing strategies allow leaders to optimize budgets by hiring in regions with lower living costs, without sacrificing quality.
24/7 Productivity: With team members spread across time zones, businesses can operate around the clock. That means faster project timelines and better customer support coverage.
Market Expansion Made Simple: A global workforce provides in-market expertise—helping leaders navigate cultural norms, regulations, and customer expectations in new regions.
5 Strategic Insights for Leaders
Now that we've covered the “why,” let's dive into the five strategic insights every leader should know about managing a global workforce.
Global Workforce Management Is Complex—but Essential
Running an international team isn't as simple as hiring remotely. Global workforce management requires leaders to understand labor laws, tax systems, and compliance rules in each country where they employ people.
According to the 2025 Global Atlas Report, 86% of HR professionals managing international workforces cite ensuring compliance with foreign labor laws as one of their most significant challenges.
For example, overtime laws, minimum wages, and benefits differ from country to country. A misstep can lead to fines or even reputational damage. Companies must also avoid triggering ‘permanent establishment,' which can create unexpected tax obligations abroad.
That's why many leaders partner with EOR companies like Atlas to handle compliance and HR complexities.
Misclassification Is a Hidden Risk
One of the most common mistakes in managing a global workforce is misclassifying employees as independent contractors. Governments are cracking down on this practice, and penalties can be steep. By working with direct EOR solutions, businesses can hire employees compliantly, ensuring taxes, payroll, and benefits are all handled correctly.
Actionable Tip: Audit your contractor relationships regularly. If someone functions like a full-time employee, they may need to be reclassified.
Global Workforce Planning Drives Growth
A successful international strategy doesn't happen by chance. Leaders need global workforce planning—the process of forecasting talent needs, costs, and compliance requirements before expanding.
This planning should answer questions like:
Which countries offer the skills we need?
How do labor laws affect hiring timelines?
What will payroll and benefits cost?
Atlas helps businesses plan smarter with global workforce solutions like country insights, salary calculators, and compliance guidance.
Actionable Tip: Use workforce planning tools to compare costs and risks before committing to a new market.
Employee Experience Matters Everywhere
Leaders often focus on compliance and payroll, but forget that a great employee experience is just as critical. Happy employees stay longer, perform better, and help your brand reputation grow internationally.
This means offering:
Competitive, locally compliant benefits
Learning and development opportunities
Clear communication channels across time zones
Flexible work arrangements
At Atlas, our global workforce solutions include premium benefits, 24-hour support in local languages, and access to thousands of training programs—so international employees feel valued and supported.
Actionable Tip: Regularly survey employees to understand their unique needs in each region.
Partnering with the Right EOR Companies Unlocks Scale
For leaders looking to scale quickly, partnering with EOR companies can be a game-changer. An Employer of Record (EOR) legally employs workers on your behalf, handling payroll, benefits, visas, and compliance.
Unlike platforms that rely on third parties, Atlas is a direct EOR provider—meaning we own our entities in 160+ countries. That gives leaders one single partner to trust.
Actionable Tip: Choose EOR solutions that prioritize compliance, employee experience, and scalability—not just speed.
Challenges Leaders Should Expect
Of course, hiring a global workforce isn't without challenges. Leaders need to be prepared for:
Legal complexity: navigating multiple labor systems.
Cultural differences: understanding diverse communication styles.
Communication barriers: time zones and language gaps.
Data privacy laws: staying compliant with regulations like GDPR.
Immigration requirements: securing work permits and visas can delay hiring and create legal risks if not handled properly.
With Atlas, we handle all of this so you can focus on growing your company.
Partner with Atlas Today
For modern leaders, building a global workforce isn't just an option—it's the key to long-term growth. Whether you need specialized talent, want to expand into new markets faster, or are focused on reducing costs, hiring internationally gives your business a clear advantage.
However, scaling globally also comes with challenges: compliance, culture, payroll, and employee experience. That's why so many organizations choose to partner with Atlas HXM. As one of the leading international EOR service providers, we deliver trusted global workforce solutions that make hiring, paying, and supporting international teams simple, compliant, and efficient.
With Atlas, you can:
Expand into 160+ countries without setting up entities.
Hire and onboard new talent in under two weeks.
Ensure compliance with local labor and tax laws.
Offer competitive global benefits to attract and retain top talent.
Give your employees world-class support in their local language and time zone.
Don't let borders slow down your growth. Contact Atlas HXM today and confidently build, manage, and scale your global workforce with the people-first EOR you can trust.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about global workforces:
Why should companies consider hiring a global workforce?
It helps businesses access top talent worldwide, reduce costs, expand into new markets, and improve productivity with teams working across time zones.
What is global workforce management?
Global workforce management is the process of overseeing international employees, ensuring compliance with labor laws, handling payroll, and providing consistent employee experiences across countries.
How do EOR companies help with managing a global workforce?
EOR companies act as the legal employer for your international staff. They handle payroll, benefits, compliance, and visas, so you don't need to set up local entities. Atlas, as a direct EOR provider, offers faster, safer expansion than third-party models.