Shortage of BPO workers in Jamaica getting worse
The worker shortage in Jamaica’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry is worsening and has been stunting the growth of the sector.
With new and local players expanding in the country, BPO sources said that the talent demand is now at 60,000. However, only 45,000 individuals are currently employed in the sector.
Additionally, due to disruption caused by the pandemic, there is a disproportion between the number of hires and job vacancies. Still, the sector is aiming to reach 50,000 by March this year.
Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) President Gloria Henry is concerned that the crisis could worsen. The association projected that at least 10 call centers are being opened in Jamaica between July 2021 and March 2022
Jamaica Employers’ Federation President David Wan stated that the dilemma stems from the inability to “offer exorbitant salaries to new employees because such a move could force the senior staff to seek a pay rise…the industry cannot even attract skilled workers from overseas”.
Despite the labor shortage, Henry pointed out that initiatives are being rolled out to address the problem such as the development training programs offered by the Global Services Skills Council.
