BPOs get creative to recruit Jamaican employees
KINGSTON, JAMAICA — Several Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms in Jamaica use creative tactics to attract potential employees amid a tight talent pool.
ibex Limited recently held a float parade on the streets of Kingston to draw in job seekers. Seeking 2,000 new hires, the company touted benefits like insurance and bonuses to stand out.
Other firms like Alorica and InTouchCX also showcased new employee perks such as tuition reimbursement, paid training, birthday off with regular pay, and signing bonuses to attract applicants.
BPO is one of the fastest-growing industries in Jamaica, projected to employ more than 70,000 by 2025. However, a shortage of skilled labor has BPOs battling for workers.
Job fairs, employment agencies, and press advertisements have become commonplace in recruitment strategies, but companies are pushing boundaries with novel approaches like deploying ‘promo girls’ traditionally used in brand promotions.
Anand Biradar, president of the Global Services Association of Jamaica, GSAJ, added that some outsourcing agencies use artificial intelligence (AI) for multiple job postings and applicant screening.
Other firms in the country are also looking into importing foreign labor to address skills gaps in the industry.
“There is an escalation in wages and benefits to some degree,” Biradar added.
Meanwhile, Human Resources Management Association of Jamaica President Lois Walters is advocating for a focus on staff retention and recruitment.
“We have a history of slavery and indentureship, crown colony governments, labor unrests; and therefore, we have to counter that culture norm/expectations in our workplaces,” Walters stated.
Companies across various sectors are hiring, and strategies to keep top performers are key. Walters recommended a strategic workforce planning approach, identifying ‘mission-critical’ roles and ensuring that top talents are equipped to fill these positions with incentives like study leave and flexible work arrangements.
With a record low unemployment rate of 4.5% and a labor force exceeding 1.3 million, Jamaica’s job market is a testament to its economic vitality and the innovative recruitment strategies it continues to evolve.
