There was a time when nearshore hiring in bulk made sense only for big multinationals operating out of nearshore, but not anymore. The latest hiring data for the first half of 2026 shows small businesses are driving nearshore hiring.
Nearly half of all placements were recorded at companies with 50 or fewer employees, per a latest report released by Hire with Near, a staffing and recruiting firm that helps US companies recruit remote talent in Latin America.
Among small businesses, companies with 26 to 50 people led the chart, with placements growing by more than 70% year over year. βMore than half of our placements in the first half of 2026 went to companies with 50 or fewer employees, and the 26 to 50 group grew more than 70%. These companies are hiring for the roles they need to keep growing, which is often sales. But also the accounting and finance professionals needed to scale a business,β Hayden Cohen, CEO of Hire With Near, told Nearshore Americas.
The trend clearly suggests that nearshoring is not a priority only for large enterprises anymore, but smaller players are equally driving the momentum. LatAm hiring has also become a default tool for small startups, which canβt afford the high costs of recruiting people in the United States.