In the US maybe, but there is plenty of top talent in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune etc. A couple decades ago they would have all been lining up to immigrate to the US, but with the impossible visa situation and a thriving local startup scene no one really wants to leave anymore.

There are a lot of great labor in India, but great does not come cheap. Cheaper than the bay area, or even the midwest, but still not cheap by world standards. You can pay engineers in Germany for similar or less in total compensation. (but good luck finding them)

Yeah but you have strict labour laws in Eu, which basically dont exist in india. This is wet dreams of the corporations.

For great labor it doesn't matter as great engineers know they can demand better treatment. For a average engineers you can get by with a lot more.

> no one really wants to leave anymore.

According to what exactly?

This may be true, but finding these workers will be much more difficult. An American with a CS degree from a state school is a known entity, more or less. Someone with a 9.5/10 GPA from an Indian school is a question mark.

I've had private equity people tell me prior to the pandemic that if a job can be done from home, then it can be done from India. It basically makes sense to me. I know the common rejoinders about time zones (which ignores that there are plenty of cheaper countries south of the US) and culture/language, but I suppose we'll see if the FAANGs can overcome those issues; many companies have gone before in this regard.

It's one of a few reasons I prefer in person work.

For small companies it can be hard finding the "right person" and retaining them remotely in India - but for large companies they've worked out many of the kinks and issues and it's quite powerfully productive now.

Anyone who ignores that is falling victim to "how it used to be" not "how it is now" - just like the American car manufacturers who slept on the horrible but improving Japanese manufacturers decades ago.

> I know the common rejoinders about time zones

Cheat code: most engineers in India will agree to work US hours if they're compensated accordingly. "Compensated accordingly" is still well below even the lowest US engineering salaries, and still in the top 1% income percentile in India.

But this doesn't make sense because there's been outsourcing for over 20 years by now and this is clearly not true. And having somewhat better tools for teleconferencing doesn't materially change the situation.

> Anecdotally, in my circles, most truly thought that this won't have an impact in the compensation levels.

I mean, even if it does, it’s not that big of a deal. Fewer people propping up a ponzi scheme of a real estate market that tries to soak up as much surplus as it can get its hands on

Also, fewer incentives to remain in the US with its shitty excuse of a health care system and public school system

Edit: and shitty life expectancies in the US as well compared to developed countries. Also shitty work culture

Might want, yes, but there is probably more top talent in the world than available housing in those high COL locations.