Europe generates 58% of global cross-border hiring origin transactions, Native Teams + Robert Walters report

A joint report from Native Teams and Robert Walters, published 16 June 2026, finds Europe is the world’s most interconnected region for cross-border hiring. Drawing on 3,000+ verified transactions across 98 origin markets, the report shows Europe accounts for 58% of all global cross-border hiring origin activity and receives 55% of inbound activity.

Cross-border hiring between European countries alone accounts for 40.9% of global activity. The two most active corridors are UK-Spain and UK-Germany, with both pairs producing significant volume in both directions. Eastern Europe offers 40-68% cost savings on equivalent skills, particularly in software engineering and digital marketing roles.

Why this matters: if you’re a European remote worker pitching for a role with a UK-based employer, or a freelancer billing across the Spain-UK corridor, the data shows you’re inside the busiest hiring lane on the planet. That changes the negotiating context. Employers are routinely paying European talent for cross-border work, and the corridors are well-established enough that compliance infrastructure (Employer of Record, contractor management) is mature.

Two practical implications. First, expect more remote roles to be advertised across these corridors as employers route hiring through EOR platforms rather than setting up local entities. Second, the cost-savings finding cuts both ways. It explains why Eastern European talent gets hired into Western European companies, but it also means the wage arbitrage gap will narrow as awareness spreads and supply catches up.

The full report is available via Native Teams and Robert Walters.