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Developers are among the most sought-after professionals in tech. The digital economy is booming post-pandemic, and while investment in technology has surged, the supply of skilled developers hasn’t kept pace. The result? A fiercely competitive job market where companies of all sizes are fighting for the best talent.
Remote hiring has become not just a necessity but an advantage. By going borderless, companies are tapping into a global talent pool, moving beyond localised talent shortages, and building diverse, resilient teams. But recruiting the best developers—especially those who thrive in remote environments—requires a strategic approach.
If your company is looking to build a world-class remote development team, here are six data-backed methods to give you an edge.
1. Prioritise Learning and Upskilling
The best developers aren’t just highly skilled—they’re highly adaptable. With new technologies emerging constantly, the ability to learn and evolve is critical. Companies that invest in continuous learning have an advantage in both attracting and retaining top talent.
A recent Stack Overflow Developer Survey found that 70% of developers are self-taught, with younger developers (under 18) overwhelmingly preferring online courses (85%) over traditional education. Platforms like Udemy (66%), Coursera (35%), and Codecademy (26%) are the go-to choices.
For remote teams, access to structured learning paths is key. Providing stipends for online courses, running internal training sessions, and creating mentorship programmes are all ways to build a learning culture. Developers want to grow—help them do that, and they’ll stick around.
2. Embrace Fully Remote and Asynchronous Work
The pandemic proved what many developers already knew—most tech jobs don’t require an office. Flexibility is now a baseline expectation. According to Stack Overflow, 85% of developers work in at least a partially remote setup, with 43% fully remote.
But remote work is more than just logging in from home. The most successful distributed teams operate asynchronously, reducing reliance on real-time communication. Documentation, clear processes, and well-defined workflows are essential. Companies that master async work attract developers who value autonomy and deep-focus work—two qualities that separate good developers from great ones.
3. Build a Strong Developer Community
Great developers don’t work in isolation. They rely on peer networks to solve problems, share knowledge, and improve their craft. Internally, fostering a strong developer culture is crucial. Externally, engaging with the broader developer community helps attract top talent.
Consider this: Stack Overflow sees over 100 million visits per month, and its 2023 survey found that 86% of developers actively use it as a resource. Creating an internal knowledge-sharing culture—whether through internal forums, Slack channels, or dedicated documentation—helps remote teams stay connected and collaborative. Meanwhile, open-source contributions, conference sponsorships, and tech meetups can position your company as a destination for top talent.
4. Focus on Diversity and Inclusion
Going borderless isn’t just about hiring from anywhere—it’s about hiring inclusively. Diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones, and companies that prioritise inclusion benefit from broader perspectives and stronger innovation.
McKinsey research shows that diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors. In tech, the shift is slow but evident: the Stack Overflow survey indicates that the next generation of developers is becoming more diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, and background.
For remote teams, inclusivity means more than just hiring a diverse workforce—it’s about ensuring all employees feel valued. Implementing clear policies on equal pay, career progression, and psychological safety makes a difference. The best developers won’t settle for a workplace that doesn’t value them.
5. Cut Bureaucracy, Enable Efficiency
Developers thrive in environments where they can ship code, not wade through red tape. Yet, 42% of developers say knowledge silos prevent them from doing their best work, and 52% report frequent workflow disruptions due to waiting for answers.
For remote teams, inefficiency can be a dealbreaker. Investing in strong documentation, automating workflows, and adopting DevOps best practices (like Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery) can significantly reduce friction. Tools like Notion, Confluence, and GitHub Copilot help remote teams work smarter, not harder.
6. Give Developers the Right Tools
A carpenter wouldn’t bring their own hammer to a job—developers shouldn’t have to provide their own tools either. Companies that equip their teams with the best technology set them up for success.
The most widely used programming languages, according to Stack Overflow, are JavaScript (65%), HTML/CSS (55%), and SQL (49%). Meanwhile, top cloud platforms include AWS (51%), Microsoft Azure (29%), and Google Cloud (27%). Providing access to these tools—and ensuring developers can choose their preferred tech stack—boosts productivity and job satisfaction.
Beyond software, hardware matters too. Offering home-office stipends, ergonomic setups, and high-performance laptops signals that you take remote work seriously. If you’re competing for top talent, these details matter.
Winning the Global Tech Talent War
Hiring top developers in a remote-first world is as much about strategy as it is about salary. The best candidates have options, and they’re looking for companies that align with their values, working style, and long-term growth ambitions.
By focusing on learning, flexibility, community, diversity, efficiency, and the right tools, your company can stand out—not just as an employer, but as a leader in the future of work. The talent is out there; the question is whether you’re ready to attract and retain it.