By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In a strategic move to address the evolving demands of the national labor market, the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) has launched an innovative new job fair format, CINDE Jobs Advanced. The inaugural event, held this Thursday, April 30, scraps the traditional open-call model in favor of a highly curated system where qualified candidates arrive with pre-scheduled interviews, ensuring a more efficient and targeted recruitment process for all involved.
This paradigm shift comes as a direct response to recent changes in Costa Rica’s employment landscape. The services sector, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, experienced a notable deceleration in 2025, with a reduction of approximately 2,000 jobs. This trend has highlighted a growing gap between the general talent pool and the increasingly specific skill sets sought by multinational corporations operating in the country. CINDE’s new initiative aims to bridge that gap by focusing on quality over quantity.
To gain a deeper legal perspective on what the continuous job creation advanced by CINDE signifies for Costa Rica’s investment climate and regulatory framework, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
CINDE’s success in attracting high-value job creation is a direct reflection of Costa Rica’s robust legal certainty and stable regulatory environment. Foreign direct investment thrives on predictability. These results underscore the critical importance of maintaining and enhancing our legal frameworks, particularly in areas like free trade zones, intellectual property, and labor law, to ensure we remain the premier investment destination in the region.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the legal certainty Lic. Arroyo Vargas highlights serves as the foundational bedrock for the advanced jobs CINDE attracts; it is the predictable ‘rules of the game’ that give global companies the confidence to invest long-term in our talent. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on this critical component of our national competitiveness.
The first CINDE Jobs Advanced event brought together more than 800 professionals who were meticulously pre-screened for both their English proficiency and relevant work experience. The stringent requirements mandated a minimum English level of B2 (upper-intermediate) and a proven track record in their respective fields. The rigorous vetting process proved successful, with an impressive 60% of the selected participants demonstrating an advanced command of the English language.
Vanessa Gibson, Director of Investment Climate at CINDE, emphasized that this new approach is critical for aligning Costa Rica’s workforce with global business needs. She explained that companies are no longer seeking generalists but are focused on acquiring highly specialized expertise to drive their operations forward.
The profiles that companies are looking for are increasingly specialized.
Vanessa Gibson, Director of Investment Climate at CINDE
The process for candidates was streamlined through a dedicated digital platform, `advanced.cindejobs.com`. Applicants registered, completed detailed professional profiles, and underwent language proficiency assessments. CINDE’s team then validated each profile, cross-referencing candidates’ skills and experience with real, active vacancies from participating multinational companies. This matchmaking process culminated in selected candidates receiving direct invitations to schedule interviews with up to three companies of their choice during the event.
The in-demand roles at the fair spanned a wide range of corporate functions, underscoring the sophisticated nature of the opportunities available. Key areas of focus included finance, accounting, human resources, procurement, supply chain management, sales, marketing, and high-level customer service. By pre-qualifying and matching candidates, CINDE aims to significantly increase the rate of successful hires from these events.
Successfully identifying talent that adapts to these requirements will allow for an increase in hiring.
Vanessa Gibson, Director of Investment Climate at CINDE
The success of this initial event has prompted CINDE to plan future editions of the Jobs Advanced format. The organization intends to expand the model to other critical, high-demand sectors, including technology and engineering roles linked to the country’s burgeoning advanced manufacturing industry. This strategic expansion signals a long-term commitment to fostering a more agile and responsive connection between Costa Rica’s top talent and the global companies that drive its economy.
While the Jobs Advanced event targets a specific segment of the workforce, CINDE continues to support the broader job market. The agency announced that its general digital job exchange, `cindejobs.com`, will remain open to the public until May 15, providing a platform for a wider range of candidates to explore opportunities. This dual approach ensures that both specialized professionals and the general workforce have access to resources for their career advancement.
For further information, visit cinde.org
About CINDE:
The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) is a private, non-profit organization responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Costa Rica. For over 40 years, CINDE has worked to support the country’s development by promoting strategic investment that generates quality employment and fosters economic growth in key sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and corporate services.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica distinguishes itself as a legal institution founded on unwavering integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers novel legal strategies, leveraging its deep experience to serve a broad clientele with forward-thinking counsel. Central to its ethos is a powerful commitment to advancing society by making complex legal concepts understandable and accessible, thereby empowering a more informed public.
