Philippines Pushes for Education-Industry Alignment to Address Skills Gaps

The Philippine government is stepping up efforts to align educational curricula with industry requirements, aiming to bridge the skills gap that leaves workers unprepared for evolving job opportunities. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. stressed the importance of equipping the workforce to grow alongside the nation's industries. Citing a 2021 Asian Development Bank study, President Marcos highlighted that approximately one-third of college graduates are employed in jobs not requiring a degree, while two-thirds of Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates end up in occupations unrelated to their training. He also pointed to labor force surveys indicating a "prevalence of hard-to-fill occupations, which signals a skills shortage." "These figures call on us to bring education and training closer to the needs of our industries, and to better prepare our people for the opportunities that lay ahead," the President stated. From July 2022 to May 2026, the government has registered 703 micro-credential competency programs and assessed nearly 4.9 million TVET graduates. The number of TVET assessors has also increased to 16,640 in May from 13,535 in July 2022, while 3,819 beneficiaries had enrolled in the Enterprise-based Education and Training Program as of April. President Marcos urged the government, academe, and industry to continue expanding skills development opportunities and ensure training is more responsive to employers' needs. This initiative could significantly benefit Japanese companies operating in the Philippines by fostering a more stable pool of qualified talent.