Amid South Africa’s worsening youth unemployment crisis, the global business services (GBS) sector has delivered a glimmer of hope, creating 5,787 new jobs for young people—nearly half in the Western Cape.
According to the October-December 2024 report by Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPeSA), 92% of these roles went to youth under 35, offering critical relief in a country where over 60% of 15- to 35-year-olds remain jobless.
BPeSA CEO Rashny Singh noted the sector’s rapid expansion, with 20,518 jobs added in 2024 alone—a threefold increase in five years. Cape Town, the country’s leading outsourcing hub, accounted for 50% of new roles, particularly in customer support, IT, HR, and finance.
Singh credited the growth to government-backed incentives, including job creation grants of up to R280,000 per international post filled locally. While the Western Cape leads, provinces like the Eastern Cape and Northwest still face youth unemployment rates exceeding 50%.
“With sustained support, the GBS sector can drive a youth employment turnaround,” Singh said.
