When you hear about the explosion of remote tech and IT jobs, it’s easy to assume opportunity is evenly spread across the globe.
It isn’t.
Industry research shows India and the Philippines remain the dominant delivery hubs for global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT services. Large investment banks and consulting companies such as JP Morgan, Bank of America, Mckinsey etc outsource business processes to India.
Together India and Philippines, host millions of workers and handle the bulk of offshore delivery for many global banks , while Africa’s share of the market is still in the single-digit percentage range.
This isn’t because Africa lacks talent.
Africa has the world’s fastest-growing youth populations and a rising number of skilled developers.
The reality is that global buyers and outsourcing giants still see Asia as the safer, more scalable bet. Here’s why.
1️⃣ Scale of Talent & Delivery Capacity
India alone produces 1.5+ million engineering graduates each year, with the Philippines adding a massive workforce in IT-BPM (over 1.8 million workers across voice and non-voice services).
This scale makes it possible for BPOs to ramp up teams of thousands in weeks.
In contrast, Africa’s skilled tech workforce is growing but fragmented across multiple markets, making rapid scaling harder.
2️⃣ English Proficiency & Cultural Affinity
The Philippines ranks among the top countries in global English proficiency, and India is one of the largest English-speaking nations in the world.
For companies serving US, UK, or Australian clients, this means fewer communication barriers and smoother collaboration.
While English is widespread in parts of Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa), many countries still face language diversity challenges that can complicate hiring at scale.
3️⃣ Mature BPO/GBS Ecosystem
Every buyer likes minimizing risk and Asia’s outsourcing hubs have decades of proof.
India and the Philippines have built deep ecosystems: experienced vendor networks, specialised training institutions, established compliance processes, and government-backed outsourcing strategies.
In Africa, similar ecosystems are emerging in hotspots like Nairobi, Lagos, and Cape Town but the consistency and maturity aren’t yet at the same level.
4️⃣ Predictable Unit Economics
Cost savings remain the backbone of BPO.
Labour-cost arbitrage in the Philippines can reach up to 70% savings versus equivalent US-based roles, and buyers can predict wage bands with precision.
While Africa can offer competitive rates, factors like currency volatility, inconsistent pricing benchmarks, and varying employment laws can make financial modelling less predictable for global buyers.
5️⃣ Connectivity, Infrastructure & Policy Readiness
Reliable broadband, stable power, secure data centres, and clear policy frameworks are non-negotiables for global delivery.
Asia’s hubs benefit from decades of investment in ICT infrastructure and government incentives for outsourcing.
Africa is catching up fast, with submarine cables, 5G rollouts, and digital skills programs but connectivity gaps and policy inconsistencies remain pain points for scaling mission-critical projects.
The Road Ahead for Africa
Africa’s low current share in global remote tech and IT delivery isn’t a verdict it’s a starting point.
The growth signals are real:
- Rapidly expanding developer communities in Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt
- Rising broadband penetration rates
- New outsourcing policies and tech parks in Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa
- International platforms tapping African talent pools
The lesson from Asia is clear: it takes sustained investment, coordinated policy, and global marketing of your talent brand to dominate outsourcing.
