The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, proudly announces that over 10 427 new jobs have been created in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector during the past financial year, from April 2024 to March 2025. This milestone represents a major boost for Cape Town’s economy and a clear sign that the City’s strategy for economic growth is delivering tangible results.
‘It’s all about prioritising workforce development, preparing more Capetonians to be job-ready for this rapidly growing sector. That’s why the City, through our Economic Development and Investment Department, funds CapeBPO as our industry-focused business partner. Through initiatives like the CapeBPO Academy in Athlone, we are fostering strong, workable partnerships with the private sector to ensure we can continuously train, train, and train.
‘When global companies are selecting destinations for their operations, Cape Town stands out because we offer not only world-class connectivity and infrastructure, but also a skilled and prepared workforce. And that’s because we focus on getting the basics right. A city that is a great place to live becomes a great place to invest,’ said Alderman Vos.
The BPO sector has become one of Cape Town’s biggest economic success stories. In the previous financial year alone, the sector added around R3,6 billion in new FDI to the local economy, and industry-wide, now contributes around R24 billion annually to the Western Cape economy, matching the impact of the tourism sector.
Furthermore, CapeBPO has implemented a variety of initiatives to prepare youth for future careers in the industry. One example is a training school programme designed for Grade 12 learners. This initiative allows young people to gain first-hand experience in how the BPO industry works, giving them a solid foundation and easing their transition into further training, and ultimately into full-time employment in this dynamic and growing sector.
‘I thoroughly enjoy visiting BPO operations across Cape Town, sitting in boardrooms, planning with operators on how we attract more of these companies, and then stepping onto the floor and feeling the energy of newly employed Capetonians. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do this work. Every one of these jobs represents not just a payslip, but the dignity of work, and the ability for someone to contribute meaningfully to their household, community, and the broader economy,’ said Alderman Vos.
‘The continued growth and success of the BPO sector within Cape Town is a testament to what is possible if the public and private sector comes together to work towards a common goal. In this case, that goal is creating meaningful careers at scale by delivering world-class service to international customers. As a strategic partner to the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, CapeBPO is privileged to act as the conduit between the public and private sectors, and we are most grateful to every Operator that we represent within the ecosystem for each job and gainful employment opportunity that they provide to those that need it the most – especially our unemployed youth that become our most prized asset. We speak on behalf of our entire industry in thanking the City and the Western Cape Government for their continued funding and support,’ said Clayton Williams, CEO of CapeBPO.
‘When I engage with international companies, I always highlight that Capetonians bring something unique to the table: solution-driven talent and empathy. These are traits that are essential in the BPO environment and form a critical part of our economic value proposition. Simply put, the people of Cape Town are our competitive advantage,’ said Alderman Vos.
