The fact that Filipinos are among the youngest populations not only in Asia but in the world—with a median age of just 25 years—should be our country’s greatest advantage.

But in a nation where school diplomas too often fail to guarantee employment, this youth dividend is being wasted. Instead of powering manufacturing hubs, laboratories, and other high-yielding workplaces, millions of young Filipinos languish in precarious or low-paying jobs—or worse, in joblessness.

For decades, the Philippines has been suffering from a disconnect between school learning and workplace realities. Employers lament the shortage of qualified skilled workers, while graduates lament the shortage of good-paying jobs.

It is no coincidence that countries dominating the global marketplace, such as Singapore, Germany, and Switzerland, are those that have perfected a training model in which skills development is tightly integrated with the needs of private industries that provide gainful employment.

Our country, by contrast, has allowed a culture of “diploma inflation” and misaligned degrees to persist, producing graduates whose skills the market unfortunately does not absorb.

If the Philippines wants a globally competitive workforce, higher productivity, and lower unemployment or underemployment, it must invest—seriously and more than ever—in its people.

That was the message imparted by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, who stressed the need to invest in human capital to bridge skills gaps across industries, when he guested last Aug. 13 at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, which I host with former Press Secretary Sonny Coloma.

He broke down TESDA’s strategy: an industry-led, enterprise-based training model that aligns education with real-world demand. “When our training is aligned with what industries truly need, graduates are better prepared to secure jobs and contribute effectively to economic growth,” Benitez stressed.

TESDA is moving in the right direction by focusing on two sectors in particular: science and technology, and the care economy.

By partnering with the Department of Science and Technology, TESDA is venturing into high-value and high-growth skills in this era where satellite applications, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and green energy dominate.

Equally urgent is the care economy—caregivers, nurses, pharmacists, therapists—roles that Filipinos have long excelled at abroad, but which are also desperately needed here. As Benitez put it, “The care economy is not only about jobs—it’s about ensuring better public health and stronger communities.” He is certainly right, because to ignore this is to ignore both a moral duty and an economic opportunity.

During the same Kapihan event, The Manila Hotel entered into a landmark partnership with TESDA with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The partnership designates the historic hotel as an official training ground for aspiring hoteliers and hospitality professionals, marking a significant step in advancing enterprise-based education in the country.

TESDA awarded The Manila Hotel Certificates of TVET Program Registration—its first in partnership with the hotel—recognizing its comprehensive training programs under the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) scheme.

“The EBET program aligns training with employer requirements, and The Manila Hotel, renowned for its heritage and service excellence, is the ideal setting for this partnership,” Benitez said.

Under the program, trainees will gain hands-on experience across hotel operations, from guest services to culinary arts. The EBET curriculum is tailored to meet industry standards, equipping graduates with the skills and competitive edge needed to succeed in the hospitality sector.

As president of The Manila Hotel, let me say that the country’s premier hotel is proud to open its doors to the next generation of Filipino hoteliers. This partnership with TESDA reflects our commitment to developing skilled professionals who will uphold and elevate Philippine hospitality on the global stage. Providing real-world training is an investment in the future of the hospitality industry.

EBET, as provided by RA 12063 signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November 2024, aims not only to bridge the gap between education and industry and thereby improve employability, but also to enable the country to keep up with the evolving global job market.

It is not just school—it is school at work. Students train with actual companies, absorbing both skills and workplace culture. It is no surprise that EBET graduates have an impressive employment rate, reaching as high as 85.48 percent in some areas.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported last July that the country’s labor force now comprises 52.32 million Filipinos, or about 65.8 percent of the population—the highest recorded labor force participation rate in two decades, since April 2005. With its upskilling and reskilling initiatives, EBET could be the game-changer the Philippines needs to maximize its labor force. ([email protected])