By Lupe Mouthon Mejia

Outsourcing companies generate over 8 thousand direct jobs. In two years the number of jobs may go up to 10 thousand.

Barranquilla is a pioneer in the Caribbean Coast when it comes to developing the BPO industry (Business Process Outsourcing), which includes contact centers. It also is the fifth city in the country as regards employment creation.

Currently there are 8 thousand people working in the BPO industry in Barranquilla. 80% of these workers are linked to contact centers and according to projections of ProBarranquilla, between 2015 and 2016 there will be 2.000 new jobs, due to investments of almost USD 10 million destined to incorporate new companies and expand existing firms.

There are 93 companies in the city that provide outsourcing services and 17% of them provide call center services.

Other cities in the Coast that have also experienced growth in the outsourcing industry are Monteria and Cartagena, while on a national level, the leading cities are Bogota, Medellin, Manizales and Cali.

Ana Karina Quessep, executive director of the Colombian Association of Contact Center and BPO (ACDECC), states that one out of three of their associates have an office in Barranquilla.

She says that a major advantage the city offers is that it has qualified workers, with a good English level and neutral accent.

Most employees are aged between 18 and 36 years old. The industry has generated synergy between the public and private sectors as well as the academy, enabling young people coming from vulnerable populations to access training and employment.

“Many youngsters have their first job in this industry” said the executive who pointed out that on a national level companies associated to ACDECC create over 90 thousand jobs and 1,5% of workers are bilingual.

“We offer jobs that are formal, properly compensated and provide options to develop a professional career”, she added.

She also stated that there are progressively more superior education training programs in Barranquilla and in the entire country as a result of the demands of the industry. These programs provide technical, technological, professional and postgraduate contents.

The sectors that demand outsourcing services the most are telecommunications, banking and financial services.

Source: www.elheraldo.co