Latin America's third-largest economy is a mecca for innovation and tech development, with successes like MercadoLibre, Ualá, and Globant leading the charge. The growing digital economy has made Argentina a hotspot for IT talent, says Rodrigo "Rod" Sellustti, Howdy.com's Argentina-based Vice President of Operations.
"There's a huge amount of talent in the Argentine tech scene," Sellustti says. "Talent is everywhere — not only concentrated in big cities like Buenos Aires but in small cities like Cordoba, Rosario, and Santa Fe."
Why hire workers in Argentina? A quick summary

- Skilled workforce: Argentina is home to a highly skilled, largely untapped workforce. The country's recent push for STEM education means many are skilled in engineering, AI and ML, and other in-demand fields.
- English proficiency: Argentina higher than any other Latin American country on the English Proficiency Index (EPI) 2023. The nation's level of English proficiency makes collaboration easier for US companies.
- An up-and-comer in the tech world. Argentina has invested heavily in developing its tech scene and attracting global entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation and startup growth.
- Time zone alignment: Buenos Aires, the country’s tech epicenter, is one hour ahead of EST for most of the year.
- Cost-effective talent: Argentinian professionals offer competitive pricing compared to other English-speaking countries due to a favorable exchange rate and lower cost of living.
Argentina's talent pool
With a growing pool of tech professionals, Argentina is already being mined for talent by tech titans like Google, Oracle, IBM, and Salesforce. 28% of US tech workers say they have Argentine coworkers, according to a recent survey from Howdy.com.
Argentina has a long tradition of excellent public education and universities, generating a diverse, highly educated, and bilingual workforce, says Sellustti.
"Argentina has always had a great education system," Sellustti says. "You will find a lot of talent that had access to great universities and English education from a very young age."
Argentina's emphasis on STEM education has helped fuel the tech talent pipeline. The country had an estimated talent pool of more than 167,000 software engineers in 2024. With Argentine universities churning out around 15,000 STEM graduates annually, the number is set to skyrocket.
Many Argentine developers excel in desirable fields, including data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). Argentine software developers consistently score highly in tech skills tests, ranking #4 in data science and #7th in technology in all of Latin America, according to the 2024 Global Coursera Skills Report.
Argentina is a booming tech hub
44% of US tech workers consider Argentina an up-and-comer in the tech world, according to Howdy.com data. Argentina's thriving tech scene is anchored by major success stories like Mercado Libre, one of Latin America's first tech unicorns, says Sellustti.
The tech scene boom is fueled in part by government initiatives, business-friendly laws, and tax incentives. Examples include:
- Ley de Emprendedores. Argentina's Entrepreneurs Law supports entrepreneurial growth, granting startups easier access to interest-free loans and other funding opportunities.
- Argentinean Technological Fund (FONTAR). This government fund provides over $200 million annually to tech projects.
- Régimen Legal del Contrato de Teletrabajo. Established in 2020, Argentina's teleworking law states remote employees must be granted the same rights and obligations as employees performing their duties in person.
- Conectar Igualdad. This government program aims to provide equal access to technology and education by distributing netbooks to students in Argentine public schools.
Time zone compatibility
Buenos Aires, the country’s tech epicenter, is in a favorable time zone for North American companies, translating to real-time communication and fewer project delays. The city is one hour ahead of Eastern Time when the U.S. is on daylight savings time, and two hours ahead during standard time.
Cultural compatibility
Argentine business culture is unique in a few, favorable ways, adds Sellustti. Compared to Western workers — who often prefer to focus on specific areas of expertise — Argentines are adept at working across industries.
"Argentine developers are adaptable," Sellustti explains. "They are creative problem solvers. If something needs to be changed, they will propose solutions."
How to hire workers in Argentina

The reasons to hire workers in Argentina are straightforward. Unfortunately, the process of doing so can be a lot more complicated — especially if you're unfamiliar with local employment laws. Your options for hiring Argentine employees include:
- Recruitment agencies. Local agencies can help you find candidates that fit your needs. However, the quality of candidates and service can vary vastly from agency to agency. In addition, safeguarding intellectual property (IP) and other data can be tricky when working with external parties.
- Freelance platforms. Online platforms offer access to freelancers for short-term projects. Contracting freelancers in Argentina comes with perks like flexibility and affordability, but exposes your business to misclassification risks. Per Argentine labor laws, the correct classification of workers is crucial to avoid fees and legal penalties.
- Establish a local entity. Establishing a local entity grants direct hiring and greater control over operations. However, entity establishment is time-consuming, expensive, and requires in-depth knowledge of Argentina’s corporate, legal, employment, and payroll regulations.
- Employer of Record (EoR): The simplest way to hire workers in Argentina is to partner with an EOR like Howdy.com. A third-party service that acts as a legal business entity on your behalf, an EoR takes on the responsibility of employing workers, handling payroll, taxes, and compliance with Argentine labor laws.
Understand Labor Law
A complex web of legal requirements can make hiring in Argentina a challenge. Here are a few key things to know:
- Minimum wage. At the time of writing, the minimum wage in Argentina is 271,571.22 Argentine Pesos (USD 274.66) per month.
- Maximum working hours: The standard workweek in Argentina is capped at 48 hours, or eight hours a day with 12-hour rest periods between working days.
- Overtime: Overtime hours are compensated at 50% of an employee’s regular salary. The compensation rate is 100% of the employee’s salary for overtime on rest periods or public holidays.
- Paid time off. Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to 10 working (14 calendar) days of paid time off (PTO) a year.
- Parental leave: Argentina provides 90 days of maternity leave, in addition to paternity leave options.
- Termination. Argentine workers are entitled to one month’s notice if they have worked for an employer for less than five years and a two month’s notice period if they have worked for an employer for over five years.
Employment contracts
Argentina's labor law recognizes several types of employment contracts:
- Permanent contract: An ongoing contract that can be for full or part-time work.
- Fixed-term contract: A contract with a set end date, such as six months. A fixed-term contract can be extended, but you can’t usually keep someone on a fixed-term contract for over four years.
- Part-time contract: A contract for roles with limited hours. A worker on a part-time contract cannot work for more than 32 hours per week.
Want to learn more? Check out our free white paper for a step-by-step guide to everything you need to know about hiring an employee in Argentina. Our white paper breaks down into labor laws, working culture, the process of acquiring office space, and more.
Hiring in Argentina FAQ
How many public holidays are there in Argentina?
Argentina observes 15 paid public holidays or feriados. Some holidays are transferrable, meaning it will be moved the previous Monday if it falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or to the following Monday if it falls Thursday to Sunday. Argentine public holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Carnival (two days)
- Malvinas War Veterans Day
- Jueves Santo
- Good Friday
- Labor Day
- Revolution Day
- General Martín Manuel de Güemes Memorial Day
- General Belgrano Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- San Martín Memorial Day
- Columbus Day
- National Sovereignty Day
- Day of the Immaculate Conception
- Christmas Day
What industry is Argentina known for?
Argentina is a leading food producer with large-scale agricultural and livestock industries. In addition, the country is fast becoming a tech hub, with over 1,200 startups and several tech unicorns with valuations over $1 billion. Supported by government initiatives and foreign investors, startups like MercadoLibre, Ualá, and Despegar are making waves on the global tech scene.
How do you pay employees in Argentina?
You must pay employees in Argentine pesos (ARS) through a local bank account, typically on a monthly basis. You must include a mandatory "aguinaldo" (13th-month bonus) paid in two installments before June 30th and December 18th, equal to half their highest monthly salary during the previous six months.
Conclusion: Hire Howdy.com, an Employer of Record in Argentina
Partner with Howdy.com, an Argentine EoR, to simplify the hurdles of local hiring. We take care of sourcing, onboarding, payroll, tax regulations, labor laws, and everything in between, allowing you to focus on the fun stuff: building a world-class Argentine team.
Howdy.com helps you hire employees in Argentina quickly, easily, and compliantly. Book a free demo to learn more.