Hire in the APAC Region

Hire in APAC

Do you have plans to hire and pay employees in APAC efficiently?

Discovering talent in new markets provides ease of access to an extensive talent pool for your organization. Although building a global remote team is usually a challenging and time-consuming process, with an Employer of Record (EOR) platform like Skuad, you can build your global team easily.

APAC Talent Trends

The Talent Trends study involved fresh insights and market mood for industries that have seen substantial disruption in the last year. The research covers important recruiting and talent-related emphasis areas in the Asia-Pacific region, such as digital readiness, organizational design, flexible work, leadership, and diversity and inclusion.

Key Takeaways from the Asia Pacific Executive Talent Trends Report

• Female executives filled 31% of senior executive job opportunities.
• 68% of businesses boosted their investment in technology and digital tools.
• 53% of organizations maintained or grew the frequency of communication and the number of channels beyond email.
• Working from home is equally or more productive for four out of five employees.

Francis Koh, CEO of PERSOLKELLY mentioned the following stats in his article on Hiring Trends: The Outlook for Asia-Pacific

• According to the Asian Development Bank, China and India will expand by 8.1 percent and 10%, respectively, this year. It predicts growth in five of Southeast Asia's six largest economies - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam – to range between 4% and 7%.
• Aside from China, two additional rapidly rising markets are Indonesia and Vietnam, all of which have huge and youthful populations yet may require a larger pool of experienced and qualified labor. 
• The report showed significant amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) streaming into various industries in these nations, with their success relying heavily on having the proper expertise in place. 
• FDIs into Indonesia increased by 20% in the second quarter of this year, the greatest year-on-year increase in more than five years, while Vietnam got $10.5 billion in FDIs in the first seven months of this year, a 4% increase over the same period last year.

Hire with Skuad

Skuad is a Global HR Platform that enables organizations to hire, onboard, manage payroll, and ensure compliance with the employment laws and taxation system in over 150 countries.

Whether you plan to hire full-time employees or contractors, locals or expats, with Skuad you can hire in APAC without setting up an entity, thereby saving time and money while also being 100% compliant with the employment laws of the country you are expanding into.

Hire your preferred top talent in the Asia Pacific with Skuad’s unified platform.

• Indonesia
• India
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Pakistan
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Japan
• South Korea
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong
• China
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka

To build a global remote team and hire in APAC, talk to our People Ops experts today, Book a Demo with Skuad.

FAQs

How to hire employees in Asia Pacific?

Companies can hire employees in Asia Pacific via direct hiring with a local entity or use an Employer of Record (EOR) - a third-party organization that legally employs a client's workforce without a local entity and compliantly manages their onboarding, payroll, taxes, benefits and more. Using an EOR is a simplified process whereas setting up a local entity demands major administrative efforts and consumes high budgets.

What methods do businesses use to hire and pay employees in APAC?

Businesses either set up a local subsidiary to recruit and pay in-house or partner with an EOR. To pay staff they use direct bank transfers into local accounts, global payroll platforms, international wire transfers (SWIFT/EFT), digital wallets or have the EOR manage all local payroll, tax withholdings and statutory benefits.

How much does it cost to hire employees in Asia Pacific?

Establishing a local entity typically requires an upfront investment of US $15,000–20,000 plus annual maintenance budgets up to US $200,000 for legal, accounting and infrastructure, whereas EOR services range from about US $299 to US $1,500+ per employee per month (with basic plans from $299+ and premium providers from $1,000+).

How does the culture of work differ in APAC when compared to the US?

Workplaces in APAC often emphasize hierarchy, collectivism, indirect communication and strong leadership, with employees deferring to seniority and prioritizing group harmony. In contrast, US culture values individualism, flatter hierarchies, direct feedback, initiative and assertiveness as drivers of innovation and career progression.

How to get a work visa or work permit in APAC?

To secure a work visa/permit, the employer (or EOR) first obtains government sponsorship or license, then the employee applies via the local embassy or online portal with documents such as:    

• Valid passport (6 months+ validity) and photos    
• Signed employment contract and employer’s registration certificate    
• Completed visa application form, CV and educational certificates    
• Police clearance, medical report and proof of accommodation    

Processing times vary (typically 2–8 weeks), and most EORs coordinate the entire process end-to-end.