Cape Town call centers create 10,000 jobs in a year
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — The City of Cape Town is celebrating a significant milestone in its Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, with the addition of over 10,000 local jobs from March 2023 to March 2024.
This achievement brings the total number of people employed in Cape Town call centers to a record 90,000.
Cape Town emerges as global BPO powerhouse
To mark this milestone, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Alderman James Vos visited EXL and Teleperformance, two call centers that have made substantial contributions to job creation in the past year.
Mayor Hill-Lewis highlighted the broader economic benefits of the BPO sector, stating, “Overall, the BPO sector contributes R21 billion to Cape Town’s economy, and we look forward to welcoming many more new call centers to our city as we keep growing this sector together with partners.”
Cape Town has become a highly sought-after location for BPO businesses and investors globally. Companies like Teleperformance, EXL Service, Concentrix, WNS, TTEC, Ascensos, and many others have played a crucial role in job creation.
The City also funds CapeBPO, its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to provide skills development in the call center sector and market Cape Town as an ideal location for BPO businesses.
Public-private partnerships fuel success
Alderman Vos emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving this milestone.
“The BPO sector stands as a pillar of foreign direct investment in our city. This makes it absolutely clear that far greater job creation can be achieved all across South Africa through public-private partnerships that genuinely invest in our communities, as we are doing here in Cape Town.”
Initiatives for skills development
CapeBPO has been running various initiatives to drive skills development, including:
- The Afterschools Programme: Grade 11 and 12 learners gain first-hand exposure and training in the BPO industry.
- Sunday School: Unemployed youth attend a three-week course, culminating in an open industry recruitment in the fourth week. Modules cover work readiness and conversational fluency, among other key skills.
Commitment to sustained growth
Alderman Vos reiterated the City’s commitment to supporting the BPO sector.
“The City will continue to support SPVs such as CapeBPO to help drive skills development, create job opportunities, and stimulate economic growth in our city. By prioritizing this sector, we are not only driving a robust economic environment but also positioning Cape Town as a leading hub for BPO activities on the continent.”
Cape Town’s BPO sector is set to continue its growth trajectory, providing more job opportunities and contributing significantly to the local economy.
