There are now 167 contact center and BPO operations, employing a total of 14,345 people, up from 116 operations and 10,014 staff in 2004.

This represents growth of 39 percent in the number of agent positions and 43 percent in the number of staff.

These figures are revealed in Calling the Cape's 2005 Key Indicator Update, a sequel to last year's comprehensive survey conducted in association with Deloitte.

The research, carried out by Voice Recruitment and analyzed by Deloitte, confirms that the industry is thriving ' but recommends that the government and private sector must continue cooperating to ensure that future growth is not sabotaged by skills shortages.

Calling the Cape has also attracted new investment in 2005 worth R506 million (US$78 million), up by 19 percent from the R426 million secured in 2004. 76 percent of this investment originated from the U.K.