Why are more and more global companies hiring IT talents from Croatia and the region?
In the past few years, Croatia and Southeast European countries have seen a big spike in interest from major global companies when it comes to local IT talent. From Silicon Valley startups to corporations from Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia – they’re all after the same thing: skilled, educated, and cost-effective IT pros.
But why Croatia and the region, exactly?
What is it that puts our IT experts at the top of the global demand list?
We’ve got all the answers in this deep-dive guide – and if you’re looking for top-notch IT pros or a hiring partner in the region, Ambacia – Croatia’s leading IT recruitment agency – has your back.
Top 7 Reasons Why Global Companies Hire IT Pros from Croatia and the Region
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. High Level of Education | Colleges like FER in Zagreb, ETF in Belgrade, and PMF in Ljubljana are constantly pumping out highly-skilled IT engineers. |
| 2. Excellent English Skills | Most IT folks from the region speak English really well, making communication with global teams smooth and easy. |
| 3. Competitive Work Rates | Compared to Western Europe or the U.S., labor costs here are way more affordable – and you still get top quality. |
| 4. EU Membership (for Croatia) | Being in the EU makes hiring easier, faster, and more legally secure. |
| 5. Work Culture & Flexibility | IT experts from here are known for being super pro and agile team players. |
| 6. Location & Time Zone | For EU and UK companies, working with Croatian teams means more overlapping hours and easier collab. |
| 7. Remote & EOR Options | With remote work booming, more companies are using EOR (Employer of Record) services to hire from the region legally and hassle-free. |
Real-Life Wins with Croatian IT Pros
Lots of global companies – like Infobip, Rimac Technology, Gideon Brothers, and tons of nearshoring partners – have been working for years with devs, DevOps engineers, QA testers, and other experts from Croatia.
Croatian engineers are building apps in fintech, AI, robotics, gaming, and healthcare – often as key players in global R&D teams.
Ambacia – Your IT Recruitment & EOR Partner in the Region
We’re Ambacia – a specialized IT recruitment agency from Croatia helping global companies find and hire the best IT experts from Croatia and the wider region.
Here’s what we do:
- IT recruitment – we quickly find top IT talent to match your needs.
- EOR (Employer of Record) – we hire in your name, handle the admin, taxes, and legal stuff.
- Consulting – we advise you on labor market trends, remote work strategies, and best hiring models.
Why pick us?
| Advantage | What it means |
|---|---|
| Deep Market Know-How | Our talent pool has 20K+ IT pros from Croatia & the region. |
| Fast Delivery | Avg. time to first candidates: 10 business days. |
| Top Candidate Quality | 80% of clients stick with us for more hires. |
| One-Stop Shop | Recruitment + EOR + onboarding = one contact point. |
Curious how we can help?
Reach out today and find out how to land top-tier devs from the region!
Why We Don’t Use AI for Recruitment – And Why That Matters to You
In a world where tech is taking over everything, one question keeps popping up in recruiting too:
Should AI decide who gets a job shot?
At Ambacia, we’ve got a very clear answer:
Nope.
And it’s not just talk – we walk that talk.
Automation vs. Human Insight: What It Really Means to Spot Talent
In today’s world of speed, scale, and “AI everything,” a lot of recruiting agencies rely on auto-selection tools. These systems scan resumes, filter by keywords, and make decisions in seconds.
Sounds efficient? Maybe.
Fair and accurate? Not really.
Because software can’t:
- See potential in an unusual career path
- Read between the lines of your experience and personality
- Sense motivation, context, or long-term value
- Tell the difference between buzzwords and real skills
That’s why we at Ambacia DO NOT use AI tools for screening. Every app, every resume, every profile is checked by a real human – a recruiter who gets people, jobs, and the market.
What Does That Mean for Employers & Candidates?
For Clients:
- Better shortlists – based on actual skills and potential, not filters
- Fewer interviews, more accuracy – ‘cause we send only the real fits
- Human insight that gets your team culture, not just the hard skills
For Candidates:
- A real shot – your CV won’t be tossed just ‘cause it’s not “algorithm-friendly”
- We see your full skillset and personal journey – ‘cause we actually read and listen
- You get feedback, tips, and real convos – not some auto-generated template
Ambacia – The Go-To IT Recruiters for Croatia & the Region
We’re Ambacia, a niche IT recruiting agency based in Croatia but working across the region – Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Our approach is all about 3 core values:
- People Over Tools
In a world full of bots, we keep the focus on what recruitment really is – working with people. - Quality Over Quantity
We don’t throw a pile of random candidates your way. We aim, then shoot. - Deep Knowledge of the Regional IT Scene
We know who’s good, who’s looking, and what drives them. Our network runs deep – 20K+ IT pros.
Why Don’t We Trust AI in Recruiting?
AI in recruitment still runs on templates, rules, and shallow data.
A good candidate often doesn’t fit in a neat box.
We look for:
- People who grow – not just tick every checkbox
- Team players, communicators, curious minds
- Potential – not just CV keywords
And that’s something no algorithm can measure.
We’re Your Local Partners with Global Standards
Whether you’re a global player trying to tap into Southeast Europe, or a local startup looking for your first dev – we get you.
We also offer EOR services – meaning we can legally hire IT talent in Croatia and the region for you, so you don’t need to set up a company.
One agency – everything in one place:
- Recruitment
- Employment
- Payroll & taxes
- Admin & legal compliance
Bottom Line: Sometimes “Old-School” Is Exactly What You Need
In a world full of chatbots and automation, a personal approach becomes your secret weapon.
We don’t believe people – or companies – can be reduced to an algorithm.
So at Ambacia, we do recruitment the right way:
- With understanding
- With context
- With real people
Boom in Demand for Remote Developers from the Region
Remote work is now standard – especially post-pandemic – making location kinda irrelevant.
More than ever, companies are hiring based on talent-first, location-agnostic vibes.
What that means for you as an employer:
- Lower hiring costs
- Bigger candidate pool
- More diverse teams
- Faster development cycles
For experts from the region:
They get access to global industry leaders – no need to move.
What’s EOR and Why You Need It
EOR (Employer of Record) lets companies legally hire people in other countries without having to open a legal entity there.
Who’s EOR for?
- Startups that wanna scale fast
- Companies testing new markets
- Businesses avoiding legal mess
Ambacia offers full EOR service in Croatia and across the region – with complete legal compliance, payroll, and employee benefits.
Most In-Demand IT Roles in the Region (2024/2025)
| Role | Skills | Avg. Gross Salary (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Backend Dev (.NET, Java) | REST API, SQL, CI/CD | 3,500 – 6,000 |
| Frontend Dev (React, Angular) | JavaScript/TypeScript, UI/UX | 3,000 – 5,500 |
| DevOps / Cloud Engineer | AWS, Docker, Kubernetes | 4,000 – 7,000 |
| QA Automation Engineer | Selenium, Cypress, Python | 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Data Engineer | ETL, Python, Spark | 4,000 – 6,500 |
| AI/ML Engineer | TensorFlow, NLP, LLMs | 5,000 – 8,000 |
Note: Salaries depend on experience, work location, and type of engagement (full-time, freelance, project work).
Top 10 FAQs About Hiring IT Talent from Croatia & the Region
FAQ
1. Why are so many global companies hiring IT folks from Croatia and the Balkans?
Because the talent here is — highly educated, fluent in English, cost-effective, and used to working with international teams.
2. Is the quality really on par with Western Europe or the US?
Totally. Developers from this region often work on cutting-edge stuff like AI, robotics, fintech apps — even for Silicon Valley and EU giants.
3. What kind of IT roles are most in demand right now?
Backend (.NET, Java), Frontend (React, Angular), DevOps, QA automation, Data Engineers, and AI/ML Engineers. These profiles are blowing up in 2024/2025.
4. How good is their English, really?
Surprisingly awesome. Most devs here speak fluent or near-fluent English. Communicating with global teams? No problem.
5. What’s EOR and why should I care?
EOR = Employer of Record. Basically, it lets you legally hire people in another country without opening a company there. Less paperwork, more action.
6. How fast can I get candidates through Ambacia?
Pretty fast — usually you’ll see your first shortlisted candidates within 5 business days.
7. Is this all remote-friendly?
Absolutely. Most companies today hire based on talent, not location. Remote work is the new normal, and teams in this region are already used to it.
8. Why doesn’t Ambacia use AI for screening CVs?
Because people > algorithms. They believe human recruiters spot real potential better than any bot — especially with unconventional or hybrid career paths.
9. What’s the average salary range for developers in the region?
Depends on the role and experience, but here’s a quick peek:
- Backend Devs: €3.5K – €6K
- Frontend Devs: €3K – €5.5K
- DevOps: €4K – €7K
- AI/ML Engineers: €5K – €8K
(All gross monthly salaries)
10. What makes Ambacia different from other recruitment agencies?
They’re niche, they’re regional experts, and they offer everything under one roof: recruitment, EOR, onboarding, and real human support. No bots, no BS.
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Final Thoughts: Time to Hire Smarter – From Croatia and the Region
The global hunt for IT talent isn’t slowing down.
If you wanna stay competitive, think bigger – Southeast Europe gives you that perfect combo of skills, availability, and value.
If you need a partner who knows the local scene, can spot your dream tech profile, and take care of all the admin hassle – Ambacia is here for you.
Start today!
Send us your IT hiring request
Or book a free consult call with our team +385 1 7701 689
Smart IT recruitment starts with the right partner.
And the right partner for the region is – Ambacia.
