BPESA launches guide to reshape talent sourcing in SA’s fast-moving GBS sector

BPESA launches guide to reshape talent sourcing in SA’s fast-moving GBS sector

180 000 sector jobs created over 10 years: 90% new hires are youth

Growth supported by impact sourcing strategies and government incentives

Impact sourcing key to creating 350,000 to 500,000 cumulative new jobs by 2030.

South Africa’s Global Business Services (GBS) sector is internationally recognised for its leadership in impact sourcing, a socially responsible hiring methodology that builds the intentional recruitment and upskilling of socio-economically disadvantaged individuals into standard operating procedures.

It is one of the reasons why an average of 90% of sector hires are youth, with approximately 30% coming from households where no one was previously employed, or where families are entirely dependent on social grants.

Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA, the national trade and industry association for South Africa's (GBS) sector, said:

"Impact sourcing is the future of South Africa's Global Business Services sector. It's about futureproofing not just our sector, but our young talent, who ultimately define our global positioning.

“The success of South Africa’s GBS sector is measured by who benefits from that growth. As an industry, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal of creating between 350,000 and 500,000 cumulative jobs by 2030. This will require us to continually expand, strengthen, and diversify our talent pipeline,” she added.

Building the Talent Pipeline

There are several non-profit organisations (NPOs), such as Harambee, CareerBox and Shadow Global, helping fulfil that ambition.

“The GBS sector is growing and hiring at entry level, but existing programmes are not producing enough beneficiaries able to take up the roles employers offer. Impact sourcing is the bridge, and models that are demand-led and proven at scale are how you build that pipeline,” said Adjoa Ayivor, CEO and co-founder of Shadow Global, a South African pioneering impact sourcing initiative that provides excluded youth with practical skills training, mentorship, and permanent job placements, primarily in the BPO and (GBS) sectors.

Impact Sourcing and AI

As AI, digital transformation and automation reshape GBS roles, the sector continues to explore how talent sourcing, assessment and development need to evolve, and which human, digital and future-of-work capabilities will become increasingly important.

“In South Africa’s GBS sector, impact sourcing and artificial intelligence are two aspects of a single agenda. One ensures that more South Africans have access to meaningful careers, while the other ensures those careers remain relevant, competitive and future-ready. Together, they strengthen our industry's ability to deliver exceptional value to clients while creating sustainable opportunities for our country,” concluded Singh.

BPESA launched its Impact Sourcing Practical Guide in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal on 15 July 2026.

The guide is aimed at sector operators who are still developing or refining their impact sourcing and inclusive hiring models.

It was developed with contributions from BPESA’s partner, Harambee, and a wide range of employers, training providers, and delivery partners.

The launch brought together BPESA members, partners, industry leaders, HR and learning teams, government, academia, training providers and young professionals for panel insights, youth presentations and an AI workshop, with support from the dtic, Harambee and InvestSA.

Further roll-out is planned for Johannesburg and Cape Town.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Recent jobs statistics

The overall number of international jobs created by the sector in the 2025 calendar year was 26,346, the highest number recorded since 2018.

Notably, just under 23,800 (approximately 90%) of those jobs went to youth.

All four active GBS provinces contributed to the total number of new jobs servicing international markets.

Western Cape witnessed significant job growth for the year, with 13,056 jobs posted in 2025 (compared to 9,549 positions logged in 2024).

KwaZulu-Natal recorded 7,709 new jobs (compared to 6,908 in 2024).

Gauteng recorded 3,969 new jobs for the year (compared to 3,810 in 2024).

Eastern Cape recorded 1,612 new jobs for the year (compared to 251 jobs in 2024).

(BPESA GBS Sector Report: October to December 2025)

About BPESA

BPESA, the national industry association for the GBS sector, is a non-profit entity dedicated to promoting trade and serving the interests of its members and stakeholders involved in developing South Africa’s Global Business Services sector.

About the Global Business Services Sector

Global Business Services (GBS) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) refer to the outsourcing of services to third-party providers, often internationally.

BPESA’s mandate is to attract international investment and cultivate a supportive ecosystem for sector growth.

South Africa offers a compelling business case for international operators, with compatible time zones, advanced infrastructure, reliable IT environments, and a large pool of skilled talent.

Servicing the local market also builds expertise that supports international operations, with a diverse range of GBS/BPO activities across disciplines and both inbound and outbound operations.

About the GBS Masterplan

Launched in 2022, the Global Business Services Masterplan is a country strategy designed to create 500,000 cumulative international-servicing jobs in the sector by 2030.

Commissioned by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition and its investment agency InvestSA, with BPESA, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and other stakeholders as signatories, the masterplan underpins the sector’s growth and international competitiveness.

Media Enquiries

Issued by Aprio on behalf of BPESA.

BPESA:

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Mobile: +27 66 336 6483

Aprio:

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Mobile: +27 83 325 9169