Automation and the shift to a green economy will not eliminate jobs but redefine them—creating new opportunities and changing the skills Filipinos need for the future.
This was the key takeaway from the “Trabahong Trending: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce” forum held on October 2, 2025, co-organized by the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS), Mapúa University, and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) through its open-access platform, the Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P), as part of the 2025 Development Policy Research Month celebration.
DOLE Bureau of Local Employment OIC–Labor Market Information Division Chief Myka Rose Trono shared that the Philippine workforce is facing a major reskilling challenge. Citing a World Economic Forum report, she noted that 68 percent of Filipino workers will need to upskill to remain employable as automation and AI adoption accelerate, yet only 38 percent have received training. She added that about 800,000 college graduates as of July 2025 remain unemployed, underscoring the growing mismatch between education and industry needs.
Meanwhile, a study by the DOLE-ILS “Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Labor Market”, found that while automation may replace certain repetitive tasks, AI is expected to create new and better-quality jobs—particularly in renewable energy, data analytics, and the creative digital sector.
As explained by Senior Labor and Employment Officer Chelsea Nicole P. Pineda, “AI should be seen not as a job destroyer but as a productivity enhancer. The challenge is to equip the workforce—especially the youth—with the right mix of technical, green, and digital skills to thrive in this evolving economy”.
Industries, she added, are now seeking hybrid skills that combine technology, creativity, and sustainability awareness. She also urged both government and employers to invest in reskilling programs, citing ILS findings that skills mismatch and uneven access to training remain among the biggest barriers to inclusive labor growth.
The green transition is opening new opportunities. Senior Labor and Employment Officer Athena Mari E. Son underscored the importance of developing adaptive human skills alongside digital competencies in her study “Green Jobs and Renewable Energy: A Sectoral Human Resource Development Roadmap”.
Citing International Labour Organization estimates, Son revealed that 24 million new jobs could be created globally by 2030 in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and other eco-friendly sectors. However, local awareness remains limited—only 29 percent of Gen Z respondents are familiar with green jobs, though most expressed strong interest in sustainability-focused careers.
“AI and green technologies are reshaping the world of work. The challenge is to ensure that Filipinos—especially the youth—are ready for this transition”, said Son.
The activity was co-organized by DOLE-ILS, Mapua University, and PIDS through its open-access platform, the SERP-P, in celebration of the Development Policy Research Month. This collaboration reinforces SERP-P’s mission to make research more accessible and to connect evidence-based studies to public discussions—ensuring that policy insights reach classrooms, communities, and workplaces.
-Ezekiel Nicomedes