Call centre explosion continues

NEWS The rapid growth in call centres is set to continue - with the 6,000 currently in existence set to increase to 8,000 within the next three years. Despite near universal contempt for the call centre experience, among both employees and customers, research group Datamonitor predicts the sharp growth will continue - meaning more than two per cent of the working population will be employed in a call centre by 2005. Currently 500,000 people earn a crust in call centres - a number which will increase to nearer 650,000 by 2005, despite the take-up of more automated systems, according to Datamonitor. The sector has showed continued growth throughout the current downturn which has plagued most other industries.