78% of Filipino workers use AI, but only 35% receive training — study

A nationwide study in the Philippines has revealed that 78% of Filipino employees across 13 industries are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily work. However, a significant gap exists, with only 35% of these workers receiving role-specific training on AI use, highlighting the rapid pace of AI adoption versus the lagging development of workforce skills. The study, conducted by local software-as-a-service company Sprout Solutions from May 8 to 29, interviewed 3,516 Filipino employees. Its aim was to determine the role of AI in Philippine workplaces and its impact on productivity and worker experience. The respondents were predominantly millennials (51%), aged 30 to 45, followed by Gen Z (42%), aged 14 to 29. Gen X (6%) and boomers (1%) comprised the remainder. AI's primary applications in the workplace were reported as communication tasks (27%), information processing (23%), and decision-making (16%). Industries demonstrating the highest AI adoption rates include construction (89.1%), transportation and storage (86.4%), and human health and social work activities (86.1%). Additionally, seven sectors—wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance, accommodation and food services, real estate, information and communication, administrative and support services, and education—showed AI usage rates between 80% and 85%, indicating AI's widespread integration beyond traditionally tech-focused roles. By job function, software development roles had the highest AI usage rate at 95%. Program and Project Management (87.8%) and Human Resources (85.9%) also showed high adoption. Ten other roles, including Business Development, Marketing, IT, Consulting, and Sales, reported usage rates between 80% and 82%. Despite high AI integration, a significant portion of respondents admitted a lack of tailored training. Only 35% reported their companies provided AI upskilling programs specific to their roles. Twenty-nine percent stated their companies offered no AI training at all, while 36% were unsure. Sprout Solutions clarified that the findings do not imply a complete absence of AI training. "Some organizations may provide generic AI training but have not tailored it to specific role-based tasks. The large share of employees who are unsure also indicates a gap in visibility or communication of existing AI learning programs," the study noted. This disparity underscores the urgent need for strategic investment in workforce development by Philippine companies to adapt to the AI era. Providing targeted training programs is crucial to maximize AI's benefits and bridge the existing skills gap among the workforce. Source: Philstar Business