Teleperformance opens new branch in Jamaica, creates 800 jobs
WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA — Global outsourced services company Teleperformance announced its further expansion in Jamaica, opening a new branch in Llandilo, Westmoreland.
Currently, the company has 3,700 employees on the island and is expected to add another 800 jobs at this new location.
Boosting Jamaica’s employment and economy
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Jake Becker, Senior Vice-President of Operations and Country Manager for Teleperformance Jamaica, said that comfort and productivity among workers were the key concerns for deciding on the opening of this new branch.
Custos of Westmoreland Reverend Hartley Perrin welcomed the development as a “game changer” for the parish.
He said, “We have never had anything of this magnitude in the parish that will seek to employ young people in the parish. Westmoreland is known for crime and violence. There was a time when we were number one for [crime]. This facility is a beacon of hope and is a rising star in the west.”
Teleperformance’s global presence and future plans
Presently, Teleperformance operates in more than 80 countries around the globe. The Westmoreland facility is the second branch in Jamaica, while the eastern side of the island will be tapped soon.
Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Danree Delancy, gave meaning to the launch not just to Teleperformance but also to the residents of Westmoreland.
He further said, “The BPO sector is a key driver of the Jamaican economy. Contributing significantly to Jamaica’s GDP [gross domestic product]. This [new Teleperformance facility] shows confidence in our island Jamaica. [It] could have gone to any other country to do this expansion.”
Teleperformance recently ranked #2 in the 2024 OA500, an objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies. This is the second year the company clinched the index’s top 2 spot.
Challenges in Jamaica’s BPO sector
The new Teleperformance facility opened in the wake of Jamaica’s stagnant BPO sector over the past six months.
According to Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) President Anand Biradar, the growth in BPO job numbers has plateaued despite the sector employing around 52,000 individuals and generating over $1 billion annually.
The BPO sector’s contribution to employment has been significant in Jamaica, particularly for young women, and has helped reduce unemployment to a record low of 4.2%.
