The Q3 2025 edition of the Corpshore Work Global Work Index tracks hiring velocity, rate benchmarks, and demand by role and region across 60 active countries on the platform.
Headline numbers
- **+34%** year-on-year increase in active cross-border engagements
- **MEA** leads all regions with 51% growth, driven by Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa
- **Southeast Asia** up 38%, with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam growing fastest
- Median rate for senior software engineers: **$72/hour** (USD equivalent, blended across regions)
Demand by role
Engineering roles account for 44% of all new engagements - the same share as Q3 2024. Product management has grown to 11% (from 7%), and AI specialist roles now appear in the top-10 for the first time.
Rates by region
| Region | Median hourly rate (USD) | YoY change |
|---|---|---|
| North America | $98 | +4% |
| Western Europe | $89 | +6% |
| Eastern Europe | $61 | +12% |
| MEA | $44 | +18% |
| Southeast Asia | $38 | +14% |
| South Asia | $32 | +9% |
What it means
Clients that broaden their hiring geography to MEA and Southeast Asia are achieving 30-40% cost savings compared with North American equivalents - with no measurable difference in delivery quality on the platform, based on engagement ratings.
The full Global Work Index report, including role-level breakdowns and country profiles, is available to Growth and Scale plan subscribers.