With nearly 60% of its population under the age of 25, youth unemployment remains a pressing concern for Africa.
By Lizelle Strydom, MD of CareerBox Africa
Around 12-million young people enter the workforce each year, but only 3-million formal jobs are created annually, leaving millions underemployed or unemployed.
In fact, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) notes that of the 420-million youth aged 15–35, only one in six is in wage employment.
This is a real challenge for a continent that is striving to position itself for the digital economy.
Compounding this problem, for many young people and women across Africa, seeking employment comes with a unique set of social expectations, economic barriers and cultural norms that often define the limits of career opportunities, especially in regions where traditional roles persist or where access to education and training is limited.
Many of our youth and women find themselves excluded from traditional job markets due to limited access to formal education or local employment opportunities. In this context, the growth of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has become a powerful force for change, opening doors to meaningful work and long-term career growth.
PwC notes that the African BPO market has been growing at over 9% annually, with countries like South Africa and Kenya emerging as prominent hubs. These figures highlight the crucial role the BPO sector can play in integrating youth into the formal economy and providing pathways to meaningful employment.
Breaking barriers and redefining roles
The BPO sector has seen remarkable growth across the continent, expanding its range of services beyond customer service to include data processing, IT support, and digital content management. Countries like South Africa and Kenya have become outsourcing destinations, attracting global companies seeking skilled and motivated talent.
For Africa’s youth and women, the industry’s flexible work arrangements, remote opportunities, and merit-based advancement provide avenues for overcoming mobility and family-related challenges. This flexibility is especially valuable for those balancing education, caregiving, or other responsibilities.
One of the defining features of the BPO sector is its focus on skills development over formal education. Many entry-level roles prioritise digital fluency, problem-solving, communication, resilience, adaptability and strong interpersonal abilities – all skills that can be developed through targeted training programmes.
Here, impact sourcing organisations like CareerBox Africa play a crucial role in bridging the gap, offering workplace readiness training and support to underprivileged youth and women. By equipping participants with high-demand technical and soft skills, impact sourcing practices ensure that young people and women from diverse backgrounds can access stable, rewarding careers.
Empowering communities through sustainable employment
Sustainable employment in the BPO industry is catalysing a significant cultural shift across Africa. For youth and women who earn a stable income, economic independence gives them newfound agency within their families and communities.
Young people gain the confidence and resources to pursue further education, support their siblings’ schooling, and contribute to local economies. As breadwinners, they can become role models, inspiring peers and younger generations to dream beyond traditional limitations.
This is important for many reasons. Research by UN Women shows that when youth and women are economically empowered, the positive ripple effects extend to their entire communities. Investments in education, healthcare, and local businesses strengthen social bonds and foster inclusive growth.
Promoting economic justice and closing gender and generational gaps in the workforce are essential to achieving key UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (reduced inequalities), and unlocking Africa’s full potential.
Building futures, one career at a time
Companies are increasingly recognising the value of mentorship, leadership development, and inclusive hiring practices, supporting the advancement of diverse talent into management and specialist roles. These efforts set powerful examples for the wider business community, demonstrating that inclusive economic participation is both a moral imperative and a driver of sustainable growth.
When youth and women work, entire communities prosper. Studies show that they are more likely to reinvest their earnings in education, health, and community development, creating a virtuous cycle of opportunity and progress. In the dynamic BPO sector, Africa’s youth and women are not just employees, they are innovators, leaders, and agents of change.
As more young people and women seize their chance to build meaningful careers in the industry, Africa moves closer to a future defined by empowerment, resilience, and shared prosperity.
Sustainable employment in the BPO sector is more than just a pay cheque – it is a gateway to personal growth, community transformation, and a reimagined future. Through determination, adaptability, and support from impact sourcing organisations, Africa’s youth and women are rewriting the narrative – one career milestone at a time.