In recent years, outsourcing has become an increasingly popular method for businesses to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Many companies choose to outsource certain tasks, such as customer service or IT support, to third-party providers who can perform these functions at a lower cost than they could in-house.

One of the key drivers of outsourcing is the desire to reduce labor costs. In many countries, including the United States, wages are relatively high and can be a significant expense for businesses. By outsourcing certain tasks to providers in countries with lower labor costs, companies can save money on salaries and benefits.

Another factor that has contributed to the growth of outsourcing is the availability of skilled workers in other parts of the world. Many countries have highly educated workforces with strong language skills, making them well-suited for certain types of jobs, such as customer service or IT support. By tapping into this talent pool, companies can find skilled workers at a lower cost than they could in their own country.

Despite these factors, the number of outsourced jobs in 2000 was relatively low. At that time, most businesses still had a large number of employees working on-site, and outsourcing was not yet as common or widespread as it is today. However, since then, the use of outsourcing has grown rapidly, and it is now a major part of the global economy.

Today, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of outsourced jobs in 2000, as this information is not readily available. However, it is safe to say that the number was relatively low at that time, and has since grown significantly due to factors such as rising labor costs and the availability of skilled workers in other parts of the world.