ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the debate on how new IT-enabled jobs in developing countries impact on workers' career development prospects over the longer-term. It empirically explores how work in call centres and back-office support services influences workers' sub-sequent employability. It does so by investigating the career trajectories of a small group of former IT-enabled business process outsourcing(ITES-BPO) workers in Metro Manila and by examining workers' perceptions as to how work in ITES-BPO has affected their employability and their post-BPO movements in the external labour market. The global sourcing and offshoring of services is creating job opportunities for thousands of workers in developing economies. ITES-BPO jobs are plentiful, require a low to moderate level of skills, and provide salaries that are much higher compared to entry-level jobs in other sectors. From an employability perspective, young graduates have much to gain in terms of work experience and skills from employment in ITES-BPO, particularly if they join the right firm and account.
