Learn about why graduates in the Philippines are struggling to find employment.
The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) has noted that there is a ‘growing disconnect between education and employment’ in the region, citing factors such as a growing number of graduates unable to find employment, declining student performance and a decline in the quality of teaching. The issue isn’t simply that graduates aren’t finding roles but also that their skills are a mismatch to what employers need. 1
What are some of key issues?
- The Department of Education has a shortage of 150,000 teachers.
- 55% of public schools are operating without a principal or school head.
- 9 out of 10 learners are struggling to understand simple age-appropriate texts.
- 4 in 10 college students drop out before finishing their degrees.
- There is a huge backlog of thousands of technical-vocational certifications to be issued to high school graduates. 1
What changes does PBEd want to see to address these issues?
- For politicians to focus on long-term goals, prioritising change that will not be felt immediately but will make a large impact in later years.
- A decentralised education systems, shifting to localised education solutions where regions can focus on their own specific needs and challenges.
- To align the curriculum with industry demands, ensuring young people have the skills that match what the industry needs, to make it easier for them to gain employment.
- Better reading support, to ensure children can read confidently from Grades 1-4 to help them throughout their education.
- Improved teacher training, improving the quality of teaching by ensuring teachers are fully equipped to teach. 1
The PBEd Executive Director explains, “This is not merely an education concern. It is a national economic issue. The future of our country hinges on how well we prepare our people, not just in terms of credentials but in terms of skills and competence.” 1
References
- Sarao, Z. (2025) ‘Education crisis persists, jobs gap widens in the Philippines: assessment’. Available at: https://asianews.network/education-crisis-persists-jobs-gap-widens-in-the-philippines-assessment/ (Accessed: 8 July 2025)
