TECH4GOOD
We are now witnessing how the digital revolution transforms the way we work and how business is done. Artificial intelligence is beginning to change the work landscape, while data analytics is driving profound changes in decision-making across industries. Organizations increasingly seek workers with the critical thinking, problem-solving, analytics, and digital literacy skills necessary to navigate this complex environment.
With its young, tech-savvy population and large pool of English-speaking graduates, the Philippines has long been the preferred destination for BPOs. On the surface, the country should be well-positioned to ride the wave of every digital transformation. However, AI-powered automation is beginning to change traditional back-office operations, requiring workers to move toward her-value activities.
The future of the Philippine IT-enabled industry hinges on a critical factor: the ability of its knowledge workers to adapt and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. As automation and artificial intelligence transform job landscapes, the Philippines must prioritize the upskilling of its workforce to ensure their continued relevance and unlock the country’s full potential as a major player in the global digital economy.
The country boasts a young population, and this demographic dividend presents a significant advantage. A young workforce is typically more adaptable and open to learning new technologies. However, this potential remains unrealized if these young minds lack the necessary skillsets. Traditional education practices often struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology. Many graduates are assessed as lacking the specific digital skills required by the modern workplace. This limits career opportunities for individuals and hinders the Philippines’ ability to compete globally for high-value jobs.
The current education system often focuses on rote learning and may not adequately equip students with the necessary creative, critical thinking, and digital skills. We also see limited industry, government, and academia collaborations to implement nationwide upskilling and reskilling programs meant to help workers adapt to changing job requirements. Unequal access to technology and the internet across the country is adding to the problem because it creates disparities in digital literacy.
The immediate implementation of Republic Act 11927, or the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act, should help address the current skills gap. This new law aims to enhance the skills and competitiveness of the Philippine workforce in digital technology and innovation by establishing an Inter-Agency Council that includes industry representatives and promoting public-private partnerships as the vehicle for program implementation.
The digital age has blurred geographical boundaries. Filipino knowledge workers, if properly skilled, may now compete with the global talent pool. To secure opportunities in this open market, a strong foundation in digital literacy and specialized skills in areas like cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data science will be crucial. With the current push for innovation and entrepreneurship, a skilled knowledge workforce is expected to fuel the country’s economic growth by developing new ideas and solutions and driving the creation of new businesses.
Upskilling and reskilling involve acquiring or upgrading new skills, which are crucial for knowledge workers in the digital age. This can involve learning and mastering new technology tools. By investing in upskilling initiatives, the Philippines can empower its workforce to adapt to the changing landscape and contribute meaningfully to its global competitiveness.
The ongoing Philippine Skills Framework (PSF) initiative, undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), involves developing sector-specific and cross-sectoral skills frameworks that will guide the country’s workers in enhancing their skills for particular job roles. Such frameworks will also help employers design progressive talent development plans and assist education and training institutions in revising existing curricula or designing new courses that are more relevant and responsive to current industry needs and emerging market demands.
What makes the PSF initiative different from other skills frameworks is the fact that, although funded by the government, the PSF is a work done by the different industry sectors. So far, the PSF for the Logistics and Supply Chain and the Creatives sectors have been launched. Next month, the PSF for Analytics and AI, Software Development, Contact Centers, Healthcare Information Management, and Global In-house Centers will also be launched. The PSF will be turned over to the different sector organizations, who are then expected to work with CHED, TESDA, and other government workforce development agencies for the implementation.
The digital transformation presents both challenges and opportunities for the Philippines. By building a competitive knowledge workforce, the Philippines can be a global leader in the digital age. This journey requires, however, a concerted effort of the government, educational institutions, industry, and individuals. ([email protected])
(The author is an executive member of the National Innovation Council, lead convener of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), vice president of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines, and vice president of UP System Information Technology Foundation.)