Driving sustainable global business services job creation in SA

THE national industry body for the sector, Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA), is hosting this year’s Global Business Services (GBS) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Conference in Durban from 3-5 November 2025. The event is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future impact of the country’s global business services sector, bringing together local and international delegates, investors, and thought leaders to reaffirm and future-proof South Africa’s global value proposition.

 “At a time when investor confidence and sustainable growth are top priorities, the GBS Investor conference provides a vital platform for robust dialogue among policymakers and industry players on enhancing sector resilience, attracting foreign direct investment, and driving inclusive job creation, especially for South Africa’s youth,” says BPESA CEO, Reshni Singh.  “The Global Business Services (GBS) sector is helping to solve the unemployment crisis in our country. Our goal is to create 500 000 cumulative jobs, particularly for youth, by 2030, as part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Global Business Services (GBS) Masterplan.  To achieve this, we need to continue driving global interest to our shores, developing essential infrastructure and promoting a diverse, skilled workforce to ensure sustained industry growth,” says Singh.

 With IMPACT as its theme, the conference will focus on four priority areas to create measurable, positive outcomes across the GBS sector, the broader economy, and society.

1. Job creation and skills development: Exploring initiatives to deliver sustainable employment opportunities for South Africans, particularly young people, drawing on the sector’s proven track record in tackling youth unemployment.
2. Sector competitiveness and investment growth: Debating policy and regulatory reforms that position South Africa as a top-tier destination for global outsourcing, ensuring long-term competitiveness amid global uncertainty.
3. AI integration and human-centred innovation: Addressing the transformative power of artificial intelligence across the GBS sector and advancing strategies for responsible, inclusive adoption that amplifies human skills rather than replacing them.
4. Global brand positioning and national collaboration: Developinga unified strategy and areas of collaboration to position South Africa as the most reliable, resilient and rewarding GBS destination in the world

Sessions will focus on practical ways to strengthen investor confidence, accelerate digital transformation, and build a high-skilled workforce ready for the future of work.

The BPESA GBS Alchemy Awards ceremony, an important part of the three-day event, will honour excellence and celebrate champions in the sector, further showcasing South Africa’s talent and innovation.

Between 2019 and 2024 the international GBS sector in South Africa added an impressive 115,000 jobs to the economy, with USD 1.87 billion generated in export revenue during the period, driven by significant investment from global players outsourcing  (offshoring) business services or operations to South Africa in recent years, as highlighted in the BPESA National Value Proposition report launched in March 2025.

 According to a recent survey conducted by global recruitment agency Robert Walters, 60% of business leaders ranked South Africa as the most attractive country for offshoring, surpassing countries like India (10%), the Philippines (10%), and Eastern Europe (19%).