Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government remains cautious due to the slight uptick in unemployment, particularly among the youth.
“To address this, we are committed to enhancing workforce competitiveness by aligning education and training systems with industry needs and accelerate interventions to improve school-to-work transitions and youth employability,” he said.
Balisacan underscored the importance of aligning workforce competencies with emerging industry demands, particularly in high-value sectors such as Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and digital services.
In particular, Balisacan said the forthcoming release of guidelines on the “Future Workforce in an AI Workplace,” which aim to support AI integration across government, industry, and education, will support the goal.
To generate more high-quality jobs, the government is also working to strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry, Balisacan said.
“This effort will be supported by the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap, which is currently being developed to outline key investment priorities, innovation goals, and talent development strategies. By accelerating growth in this sector, the government aims to create more employment opportunities for skilled Filipino workers and enhance the country’s competitiveness in advanced manufacturing,” he said.
The government is likewise accelerating the implementation of Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) to attract job-generating investments and address infrastructure bottlenecks, he said.
“The numbers show that our efforts are bearing fruit, but more work lies ahead. We must accelerate structural reforms to make our labor market more inclusive, competitive, and resilient. Through sustained collaboration and innovation, we aim not just to create more jobs, but to sustain improvements in the lives of all Filipinos,” Balisacan added.
