Despite geopolitical, economic, and tech disruptions, 91% of executives are actively hiring. There’s just one problem: finding talent in local markets is tough. The 2025 World at Work report, which gathered insights from 6,000 global business leaders and professionals, found that 50% of executives who don’t hire globally are struggling to find top talent.
This blog looks into the 2025 World at Work report findings to uncover key global talent acquisition trends and common global hiring misconceptions that are holding leaders back.
Why finding skilled talent is harder than ever
Local talent shortages aren’t a new problem. They’ve affected companies for years. In 2023 and 2024, G-P™ research found that over 40% of executives said talent access was their biggest obstacle to growth. In 2025, the challenge has become even more serious. The World at Work report found that 84% of executives have trouble finding skilled talent in their local markets.
So, why is it increasingly difficult to find the right people? The number of qualified candidates is shrinking, especially with changing workforce demographics and a growing need for specialized skills. Plus, everyone is fishing in the same pond. So, companies have to compete fiercely for skilled candidates, leading to inflated salaries and benefits. This also increases the likelihood of “buying talent” — when highly skilled talent is acquired by competitors offering better compensation packages.
How to find skilled talent outside local markets?
The G-P 2025 World at Work report found that the top hiring barriers are:
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Finding qualified candidates with the right skills
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Meeting candidate expectations for higher pay and benefits
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Navigating the complex logistics of hiring
Hiring locally is no longer enough. The key to overcoming local talent shortages is to tap into the global talent pool and expand your international hiring strategies. You can start by partnering with an employer of record (EOR). An EOR can help you access talent hubs in new regions and build your global team, without setting up an entity. Once you find the right talent, the EOR manages the complex logistics of hiring and compliance, so you can focus on your business.
What are the biggest misconceptions about global hiring?
While global hiring is the solution to today's local talent shortages, many business leaders are held back by common global talent acquisition misconceptions. The World at Work report reveals:
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52% of leaders believe the legal risks are too great.
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50% are concerned about losing efficiency and productivity oversight.
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48% believe a local office or legal entity is needed to hire in another country.
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42% say it's too expensive.
The right international hiring strategies, paired with a trusted global employment partner, can make these fears disappear. With G-P EOR, you can onboard and manage talent in 180+ countries quickly and compliantly. We handle everything from payroll and benefits to following local labor laws. We give you the peace of mind to hire anywhere without the stress of legal risks. And with G-P Gia, our AI-powered global HR agent, you can analyze and generate documents and get answers to the toughest compliance questions instantly, cutting outsourced legal costs and admin time by up to 95%.
Why employees are willing to move abroad for their career
The World at Work report also found that employees today are more mobile and open to new career paths than ever. The report shows that 52% of global employees are actively searching or likely to search for a new job in the next six months. For many, that search isn't limited to their home country: 62% are willing to move to a different country for career advancement.
This willingness to relocate for work is often driven by the benefits of working for global companies. The report revealed that 44% of respondents believed that working on a global team improved their career opportunities and skillsets.
For companies embracing global talent acquisition and career mobility, it's a win-win. On one hand, itI exposes employees to different cultures and perspectives, which aids their personal growth and cultural enrichment. On the other, it enables companies to relocate employees to critical markets.
Global mobility allows you to use in-house skills and expertise while saving on recruitment and training costs. This flexibility helps you keep your top performers and reduce turnover. In fact, 88% of HR professionals say they view global mobility as an effective international hiring strategy to tackle talent shortages.
To learn more about how the impact of global teams on your career trajectory, explore our global mobility blog post.
Get more insights in the 2025 World at Work report
Limiting your search to local talent pools isn’t enough. Although it may seem daunting, global talent acquisition can give you access to the skills you need. Success lies in having the right technology and the right partner.
G-P helps companies of all sizes hire, onboard, and manage global teams in 180+ countries. We manage the legal, payroll, and compliance aspects of international hiring. Our AI-powered global employment products and EOR solutions give you everything you need to build a global workforce quickly and easily.
For more insights on the trends shaping the future of work, check out the full 2025 World at Work report.