Germany is the top country for remote work, according to the Global Remote Work Index by NordLayer.
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It is followed by Denmark, the USA, Spain, Lithuania, Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia, Singapore, and France. The report evaluated 66 countries in total.
The index was compiled by assessing and comparing the countries using four index dimensions. Together, they combine various detailed attributes (or sub-dimensions) that help evaluate general remote-work attractiveness:
1. Cybersecurity — infrastructure, response, and legal measures.
2. Economic and social conditions — safety, tourism attractiveness, English proficiency, cost of living, and healthcare.
3. Digital and physical infrastructure — internet quality, affordability, e-infrastructure, e-government, physical infrastructure, and co-working spaces.
4. COVID-19 response — vaccination and response rates.
Countries perform differently in each category. The cybersecurity category is dominated by smaller European countries, such as Slovakia, the Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia, and Greece. EU member states took the top 18 places in cybersecurity.
Canada, the UK, Portugal, the USA, and Germany, respectively, are the five most favorable countries for remote work regarding economic and social conditions. However, countries’ levels of wealth don't guarantee cybersafety.
Although such countries as Malta, New Zealand, and the UAE rank relatively high in economic and social conditions, they experience higher cybersecurity risks than other countries with similar economic and social conditions.
The index shows that remote workers willing to find a cheaper location to relocate will have to compromise on aspects like general safety or the level of English spoken in the country.
Internet accessibility and quality are a must for a person to be able to work without worry. Therefore, the digital and physical infrastructure metric was very important when compiling the index.
According to this metric, South Korea and Singapore are at the top, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, and Switzerland. ■