South Africans working from home are increasingly finding themselves employed not by companies in Johannesburg or Cape Town, but by businesses thousands of kilometres away in the UK.
And for local job seekers, the trend could mean access to better-paying opportunities without having to leave South Africa.
Job Crystal CEO Sasha Knott says the recruitment company is seeing growing demand from international businesses looking to hire South Africans to work remotely.
“We’re finding more and more are working for international companies,” Knott said.
She said the trend was particularly noticeable among UK businesses hiring South Africans, and the opportunities were no longer confined to the technology sector.
“We find it in finance, sales, marketing; a whole range of different industries and different kinds of jobs where people are working from home remotely.”
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Why UK companies are hiring South Africans
For international employers, South Africa offers an attractive combination: skilled and educated workers at a lower cost than hiring someone in markets such as the UK.
For South African employees, meanwhile, an international employer can offer higher pay than they might receive for a comparable job locally.
Knott described the arrangement as a “win-win” for both sides.
International businesses can secure skilled employees at a lower cost than they would typically pay in their own countries, while South Africans can still earn more than they would working for local employers.
“South Africans are earning more from those international companies,” Knott said.
“They’re still being paid in rands; they’re earning more than the local side. But again, the UK or Dubai companies, for example, are getting it at a lesser rate than they would have in their countries.”
Cost is not the only factor attracting overseas employers.
Knott said South African workers are also highly skilled and educated, while their business experience can make them a good fit for international companies.
Remote work trend expected to grow
The shift towards international remote employment was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when companies around the world were forced to test whether their employees could effectively work away from the office.
For many businesses, it worked.
Knott believes the trend will continue to grow, with Job Crystal receiving increasing numbers of requests from overseas companies wanting help recruiting South Africans.
“I don’t see it stopping,” she said.
There are limits to which jobs can be performed remotely. Occupations requiring workers to be physically present, such as plumbers and electricians, are obvious exceptions, as are some roles requiring face-to-face interaction with clients.
But for many office-based jobs, geography is becoming far less important.
What does it mean for South African employers?
Higher salaries from overseas businesses could make it more difficult for South African companies to compete for some skilled workers.
However, Knott does not believe the trend necessarily amounts to a skills drain.
Unlike traditional emigration, South Africans working remotely for foreign businesses remain in the country.
There can also be drawbacks to working permanently for a company on the other side of the world.
Knott said some employees eventually want greater opportunities to climb the corporate ladder and miss having face-to-face contact with colleagues.
She believes South Africa could ultimately benefit from workers gaining experience and skills from international companies while continuing to live locally.
“We get international skills into our community, and they’re going to use that within the South African side,” she said.
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