Absa has been recognised as a Top Employer for 2025 by the prestigious Top Employer Institute (TEI), marking the fourth consecutive year it has received this accolade. The certification spans six key African markets – Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana, and, for the first time, Mauritius.

The inclusion of Mauritius reflects Absa’s continued expansion and investment in Africa, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening its presence across the continent. Retaining this certification in all six markets demonstrates the Group’s consistent efforts to advance Human Capital practices and set new benchmarks as a leading employer of choice in Africa’s financial sector.

Jeanett Modise, Absa Group Chief Human Capital Officer, commented: “Achieving the Top Employer Africa certification is a key milestone in our journey to bring Absa’s organisational purpose to life: ‘Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together, one story at a time.’ This recognition affirms our commitment to building a talented, diverse, and future-fit workforce while positioning Absa as a globally respected organisation that Africa can be proud of. By investing in our people and cultivating a culture of belonging, well-being, and excellence, we continue to enrich the employee experience and strengthen our employer brand. This certification validates our efforts to retain and attract top talent, ensuring that Absa remains the home of Africa’s leading professionals. We want to reassure our employees that we are committed to the success of their story.”

Driving Progress: Key Areas of Growth

Absa has been recognised for its outstanding performance, with notable increases in Leadership (+9.06%), Work Environment (+10.83%), Onboarding (+6.70%), Well-Being (+7.68%), Employee Listening (+11.32%), and Offboarding (+7.77%). These areas, where the Group achieved the highest growth, place Absa above industry benchmarks. The bank’s focus on enhancing employee well-being and strengthening a high-performance culture has been central to its progress.

Beyond retaining its Top Employer certification, Absa has made significant strides in key areas. Leadership development remains a priority, with a strong emphasis on embedding the Group’s strategy, purpose, values, and brand. This approach ensures that every interaction reflects the belief that every story matters, creating an environment where all colleagues feel a sense of belonging and can thrive. Leadership excellence continues to be a strategic focus, ensuring that the organisation is guided by individuals who embody Absa’s vision and culture.

Absa has also taken deliberate steps to enhance its work environment by strengthening Psychological Safety, Diversity, and Inclusion across its various business units. These efforts have contributed to a more inclusive and supportive workplace where employees feel valued. The employee journey has also been enhanced through improvements in onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring seamless transitions for both new and departing employees.

Recognising the importance of holistic employee well-being, Absa has introduced various initiatives and improved access to essential services supporting psychological, physical, and financial wellness. Furthermore, the Group has refined its employee listening strategy to align with evolving organisational goals, ensuring that employee feedback directly informs workplace improvements and people-focused policies.

These initiatives have contributed to Absa’s overall Top Employer score increasing to 90.15%, a notable rise of +3.73 points from 2024’s score of 86.42%.

Saviour Chibiya, Chief Executive for Absa Regional Operations (ARO), stated: “We are pleased to see the number of Absa countries receiving this certification grow, as it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a workplace where excellence thrives. The addition of Mauritius is particularly significant, as it underscores the strides, we continue to make in building an employer brand that resonates across the continent.”

This certification marks an important milestone in Absa’s journey to realise its organisational purpose. It further positions Absa as a globally respected organisation that Africa can be proud of—one that attracts, retains, and nurtures top talent through a culture that enables diverse and high-performing teams to succeed.

TEI is a global authority on recognising excellence in Human Capital practices. Through its internationally recognised Certification Programme, data-driven insights, and advisory expertise, TEI supports organisations in advancing their talent attraction, development, engagement, and retention strategies.

Modise concluded: “This certification highlights our commitment to the continent and recognises the power we hold as a financial institution to nurture talent and drive meaningful impact where it matters most—our people.”