The big question.

Why are global talent sourcing platforms creating more room to include the remote African workforce?

Global companies are tapping into African Talent because of its reduced operational costs, skilled workforce, language compatibility, young tech savvy individuals, and improved infrastructure and access to the internet.

These companies need results, and African freelancers are not left out when it comes to meeting targets, and exceeding expectations. 

As people adapt to the remote, and hybrid work structure, the growing tech/digital community in Africa cannot be seen as a cost-saving measure, but as a smart, strategic, and promising move.

While the answer might be obvious, it is certainly beyond just hiring people to assign and complete tasks. It is tapping into a workforce that possesses the ability to take on their roles with top-notch passion, and enthusiasm.

It is beyond outsourcing roles to a workforce because they are ‘cheaper’ – the stereotype. It is working hand-in-hand with a team of likeminded individuals who are interested in being a part of building, growing and scaling businesses from zero to founder.

Like the rest of the global workforce, Africa has repeatedly proven to be a continent filled with unique talent looking to drive innovation whilst maintaining competitiveness.

The answer is clear. 

But let’s break down why companies are actually bringing African talent onboard, and how you can join the winning team.

Why Global Businesses are Hiring African Talents

For companies seeking new markets, and talents, Africa holds immense potential in promoting innovation, and helping global companies better understand their consumers, whilst promoting growth across various parts of the company.

Here are a few reasons why global companies are tapping into the African workforce.

Reduced Operational Costs and Highly Skilled Workforce

According to a report by Google and Accenture, Africa’s pool of  professional software developers rose by 3.8%. This means that the skill level of professional tech talents in Africa is experiencing a rising surge.

As labor costs are significantly much lower as compared to western countries worldwide, Africa is an appealing choice to companies looking for cost-effective options. 

Without having to compromise the quality of deliverables and overall work, global businesses can build, scale, and grow a team of remote African talent that delivers high performance across sectors like design, software development, marketing, and customer support.

For startups and small businesses looking to scale their operations without straining on budgets, they can save up to 70% on costs by hiring skilled professionals from the African workforce.

Raw & Untapped Tech Savvy Talents

In 2023, Agence Française de Développement wrote that, “More tech companies are developing in Africa than in the rest of the world.”

Due to its high youthful population, Africa is a breeding ground for fresh, vibrant, and innovative minds fully equipped with the necessary skill to compete in the workforce, and at a global scale.

By onboarding these African talents on your team, you get the opportunity to work with young individuals who are willing to put in the hard work and produce results for the team.

However, be sure that your recruitment process isn’t too complicated to scare away potential talents that can bring your vision to life. We’ve covered the five steps to successfully set up your team for success with a clear cut onboarding process.

Language and Cultural Compatibility

The language barrier is no longer a problem global companies have to deal with. Most African countries have English as their official language. This has made communication between western and African countries easier. 

With countries like Kenya, and Nigeria having multiple professionals who are fluent in English, communication between teams have been effective, and consistent.

On the cultural front, Africa is home to diverse ethnicity, traditions, and cultures. This has shaped each individual to develop a sense of community, empathy, tolerance, and acceptance towards other people. Concepts such as individuality, and uniqueness of each culture isn’t strange to the African workforce.

Also, Africa has the world’s youngest population seeking out employment opportunities by both local and international businesses looking to employ. This creates an environment where ideas, technology, and growth can co-exist.

So, if you’re wondering where would be a safe haven to incubate your ideas and birth them when the vision is clear, the African talent community is the best place to bet on.

Improved Infrastructure and Connectivity

The Global village is a reality due to the availability of the Internet. Building a remote team without having proper systems and infrastructure to optimize the workflow is like shooting oneself in the leg.

Africa is on the forefront of global technological advancements and innovation; making significant strides in developing its digital infrastructure and expanding its internet connectivity.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), over 40% of the population in Africa now have access to the internet.

Asides investments in broadband infrastructure and the expansion of affordable internet services in Africa, Governmental organizations have also supported and encouraged digital growth and transformation.

Countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius have launched initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship in the tech sector, promote digital skills, and also improve internet access and connectivity.

6 Ways to Tap Into the African Workforce

Below are 6 tips for tapping into the remote African workforce:

 

• Identify Your Hiring Needs

• Pick the Right Hiring Model

• Partner with Indigenous Talent Platforms

• Develop a Fair Payment Structure and Compliance

• Create a Clear Onboarding and Communication Process

• Define Performance Metrics & Foster Long-Term Collaboration

Let’s dive into each point in details:

Identify Your Hiring Needs

At every stage of a company’s growth, there are specific needs that are required to take them from point A to point B. The needs for a company in the ideation stage will be different from the needs of a company that’s focused on running campaigns targeted at rebranding.

Spelling out job roles and descriptions is an important part of identifying and attracting the right talent into your team. By identifying the goals of your company at each point, it is easy to put out a job description that describes the perfect fit for your team.

So ask yourself, “what does my company need at the stage where it’s at?”

Once you have a clear answer of what is needed, then you can begin to work on creating job roles that will help bring in the right people to help achieve that need.

Pick the Right Hiring Model

The talent market has evolved, and hiring talents can get overwhelming if not structured properly. Choosing the right hiring model should be based on the needs of your company.

 

There are three ideal hiring models;

• In-House Hiring

• Recruitment Process Outsourcing

• Contingency Hiring

 

The In-House hiring is best for companies with continuous hiring needs that prioritize control over their hiring process. The Contingency model is best for companies that need to hire quickly without committing to a long-term partnership with any recruiter.

The Recruitment Process Outsourcing is the best option for companies looking to hire African talent. This process involves outsourcing all or part of the recruitment process to an external provider.

This gives you the ability to focus on your business whilst the experts vet and bring in the right people for your team. It also gives you more control on the overhead costs associated with building an in-house team.

Partner with Indigenous Talent Platforms

Local talents platforms are a great place to start when looking to tap into the African workforce. Partnering with top tier organizations or companies that help outsource and vet local talent before onboarding them is a strategic way to move.

Candidates in vetted talent platforms have gone through a series of skill assessments, screening, and interviewing before they’re presented to you— this means that half of your hiring problems are solved.

Hire Talent Africa is Africa’s leading talent platform that helps agencies and startups find and hire pre‑vetted African talent, from developers and designers to analysts, ready to plug into your team and deliver results.

Develop a Fair Payment Structure and Compliance

One misconception to avoid is the ‘cheap labor’ notion associated with hiring African talent on your team. 

While the cost of living in Africa is significantly cheaper than in Western countries, it is very important to not take advantage of the situation and offer to pay cheap for quality services.

Establish clear salary structures, compensations, regular salary review, and adherence to labor laws, regulations, and industry best practices.

Create a Clear Onboarding and Communication Process

Introducing a newly hired employee into an organization is a huge part of organizational socialization. This process is often not given the due attention it deserves.

This stage is where seeds and the vision of the company is implanted in the minds of the new hires. It’s like giving them the proper resources for a good headstart.

Communicate the legal and policy-related aspects of the job, clarify on the job duties, introduce the company’s values and cultures, and create room for them to connect with the rest of the team.

Define Performance Metrics & Foster Long-Term Collaboration

Fostering long-term collaboration with talents can include creating opportunities for team members to connect, share ideas, communicate without fear, and contribute to the growth of their individual skills.

Performance metrics can look like the quality of deliverables, efficiency of process, alignment of goals, level of participation and knowledge sharing among team members, and the creativity of solutions offered.

In summary, Global companies are tapping into the African workforce due to its reduced operational costs, communication and cultural compatibility, skilled workforce, and many other innovative reasons.

Whilst it’s a catch, going through the wrong process means risking hiring the wrong African talent. It is important to follow the due steps as mentioned above in order to record progress for your company.