Big Tech Scour South Africa For Talent In Major Hiring Drive
Major global tech firms such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are actively seeking talent in South Africa to fill various positions within their organisations.
Amazon currently has 74 job openings advertised in the country while Microsoft and Google have fewer openings, with 11 and three roles available, respectively.
Collectively, these big tech giants employ nearly two million people globally, with Microsoft contributing around 220,000 employees and Google approximately 182,500.
As of the end of 2023, Amazon boasted the largest global workforce among the three companies, with over 1.5 million employees.
Amazon has identified South Africa as a key market for expansion, with plans to launch its local marketplace later this year, following its announcement in October 2023. Sellers in South Africa can already register to sell products through the platform.
Despite anticipation surrounding the launch, experts predict a gradual rollout similar to Amazon’s strategy in other regions, suggesting that initial product variety may not match that of the US marketplace.
Damon Bush, an equity analyst at M&G Investments, said pricing on Amazon’s platform is likely to align closely with competitors like Takealot, as Mybroadband previously reported. Andy Higgins, managing director at Bob Group, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that consumer experience will be pivotal in the competition between Amazon and local players like Takealot.
Microsoft established its first South African office in 1997, a decade before Google’s entry into the market. Both companies have pitched their tent in Bryanston, Johannesburg, with Microsoft employing around 500 staff members.
Google initially operated from shared office space at The Campus in Bryanston before moving to its dedicated premises eight years later.
In February 2022, Google announced initiatives to support startups, SMMEs, and nonprofits in South Africa, committing USD 500 K in funding and training to organizations such as Gift of the Givers and Food for Life South Africa to aid in economic recovery.
