Chile

Talent Pool & Education

Chile ranks well in quality-of-life measures such as jobs and earnings, work-life balance, health and wellbeing, despite persistent social and economic inequality. The country also benefits from a strong standard of tech education. In 2021, Santiago’s Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile again took top place in the QS Latin America University Rankings, and an impressive 94% of computer-science graduates throughout the country land a job within a year of completing their studies. Start-Up Chile is a government-backed initiative valued at US$2 billion that promotes a growing entrepreneurial environment, offering equity-free grants of up to US$40,000, mentoring workshops, co-working spaces and access to investors. One-year visas are available to startups that continue to develop in Chile, attracting technology entrepreneurs from all over the world.

Language

Spanish is the primary language among the general population, but English is widely spoken in the main cities and within the business community.

Economic Outlook

Buoyed by the price of copper and one of the world’s fastest COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, Chile’s government has boosted its projection for economic growth in 2021 to 7.5%. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development forecasts a strong recovery, prompted by investment regaining momentum and policy measures to support private households and subsidize job creation. Chile has been one of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies in recent decades. It’s been fueled by bold structural reforms including trade and investment liberalization and a buoyant natural-resource sector. 

Political Conditions

Elections for the constitutional assembly in May 2021 saw right-wing politicians swept aside as the country turned to a progressive new generation to write the next chapter in its history, following waves of civil unrest. The next general and presidential elections in November 2021 are critical as the winning regime will usher in a new constitution.