Redefining Growth: How Costa Rica’s Job Market is Creating Inclusive High-Value Opportunities
As Costa Rica’s global services industry evolves, its success is being defined not only by investment and job creation — but also by inclusion, opportunities and the stories of people like Valeria Alvarado, who are transforming what economic growth truly means.
Costa Rica’s job market is undergoing a powerful transformation. What once was measured primarily in numbers and GDP is now also defined by inclusive opportunities that empower diverse professionals to thrive and grow. Across the country, multinational companies are helping shape a workforce that is not only specialized and globally connected, but also more equitable and human centered.
This evolution has created high-value roles that combine technical expertise — such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, accounting and finance — with multilingual proficiency and soft skills. It’s a shift that highlights how human potential, not just investment figures, is driving progress.
According to CINDE, more than 162,000 people are now part of Costa Rica’s multinational industry, which contributes to approximately 8% of the national GDP. The arrival of new investments is expanding beyond the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), generating more equitable access to opportunities and strengthening the country’s role as a strategic talent hub for global operations.
As this transformation continues, companies are placing increasing focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) — ensuring that growth is accessible to all professionals. CINDE reports that over 60% of multinational companies in Costa Rica actively monitor equity indicators and apply inclusive policies across recruitment, training and workplace flexibility.
Behind these numbers are people whose journeys reflect the country’s evolving definition of success — professionals who are breaking barriers and reshaping what opportunity looks like. One of them is Valeria Alvarado, whose story exemplifies how resilience, inclusion and a supportive workplace can open doors and redefine what it means to grow.
Valeria’s Story: Building a Career Across Borders
A resident of the canton of Flores, Valeria began her career as a high school English teacher and translator. Motivated by a passion for learning and helping others reach their potential, she discovered her calling in developing educational materials and programs. This led her to specialize in curriculum design and later earn a master’s degree in human resources, focused on talent development and training.
Valeria joined TransUnion in 2019 through an acquisition and has been part of the organization ever since. She currently serves TransUnion’s Global Capability Center (GCC) in Costa Rica as a Senior Analyst for International Sales Enablement, supporting operations across several countries. Reporting directly to an international manager has expanded her exposure and strengthened her global perspective. Her journey demonstrates how learning, inclusion and ongoing support can help Costa Rican professionals transcend borders.
Throughout her time at TransUnion, one of the projects she feels most proud of is her contribution to the company’s commercial training programs. Initially focused on operational tasks, she gradually took on more strategic responsibilities. Today, she develops case studies, coordinates with seven international regions and plays an active role in planning global processes. For Valeria, it has been a truly collaborative and deeply enriching experience that reflects her professional growth.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, Valeria has turned what could have been treated as a limitation into a source of strength. Her perseverance and love for learning have driven her to thrive professionally supported by adapted tools, flexible work options and inclusive spaces that allow her to excel, always accompanied by her guide dog, Bella.
“Living with retinitis pigmentosa has influenced many aspects of my personal and professional life. I’ve learned to plan every project and workspace carefully, ensuring I have the right conditions and support to do my best. Since joining TransUnion, I’ve received an incredibly positive response. My manager and the leadership team have always been open and supportive, especially when I introduced Bella, my guide dog,” said Valeria Alvarado.
Valeria believes that for companies to be truly inclusive, keeping an open mind is essential. She acknowledges that there are sometimes preconceived notions or concerns about the capabilities of people with disabilities, which can limit rather than promote inclusion. For her, the key is to ask, listen and create spaces where everyone can express their needs and how they can best contribute.
“At TransUnion, I’ve found exactly that: openness, willingness and respect. No one assumes something will be difficult for me, they always ask how I feel or what I might need to successfully complete a project, and that makes a world of difference,” she added.
A Workforce for Good: Inclusion with a Global Impact
Valeria’s story reflects the spirit of Workforce for Good, TransUnion’s global employee value proposition that promotes careers with purpose through three pillars: providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, fostering a flexible and inclusive work experience and generating a positive impact in communities.
Today, TransUnion’s GCC in Costa Rica brings together around 800 associates located both in the GAM and in rural areas, demonstrating the strategic value the country offers.
“We prioritize the health, safety and well-being of our associates. We value and support our people, which translates into engagement and motivation to give their best at work. For many, their role is not just a job, but a meaningful career that allows them to grow, develop and achieve both personal and collective goals,” said Bryan Castillo, Head of the GCC in Costa Rica.
Stories like Valeria’s remind us that true progress lies in people — in how opportunity, innovation and inclusion can come together to empower growth, both locally and globally.
About TransUnion Costa Rica (NYSE:TRU)
TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing an actionable picture of each person, stewarded with care, so they can be reliably represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good®. TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunities, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people in more than 30 countries.
TransUnion's Global Capability Centers (GCCs) enable a global operating model with robust scale and scope, improving efficiency and effectiveness whilst strengthening operational resilience and augmenting our existing service offering to clients and consumers.
In Costa Rica, our GCC leverages local talent to deliver TransUnion’s core capabilities and support global operations with scale and speed. We’re creating opportunities across a range of skills such as contact center, business process management, technology support and data analytics roles, among others, while expanding time-zone and language coverage, and ultimately enabling thriving economies around the world.
For more information, visit transunioncentralamerica.com/centro-de-capacidad-global-de-costa-rica