JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) has launched the Global Business Services (GBS) Skills Strategy 2025–2030.
The strategy will be South Africa’s “unified national roadmap to build an agile, future-ready talent pipeline” that will strengthen its “competitiveness as an offshoring destination.” It encompasses 12 focus areas, which include:
- Youth employment
- Demand-driven curriculum reform
- Inclusive hiring
- Leadership development
- Professional pathways
- Impact sourcing
- Acceleration of new job families emerging through AI and digital transformation
BPESA will lead the execution of the strategy, ensuring to “provide accountability, track progress, and drive continuous adaptation to 2030 and beyond.”
Its Potential Impact on South Africa’s BPO Industry
By aligning skills development with actual industry demand, the GBS Skills Strategy is a promising initiative to build a deeper, more agile talent pool that meets international standards. This improved talent supply could help South Africa attract more foreign investment and outsourcing contracts.
Take note: The GBS sector already grew from 65,000 jobs in 2019 to around 150,000 in 2024, with revenue tripling over that period. With the implementation of the new strategy, that growth trajectory may continue, potentially helping the country reach the target of 500,000 cumulative jobs by 2030.
Moreover, the strategy’s emphasis on digital, AI-enabled, high-value service capabilities could help shift the industry up the value chain. It will enhance the country’s competitiveness, enabling it to compete with global outsourcing hubs for more complex, higher-margin services.
