Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to Hon. Bienvenido Laguesma, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), during the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) of the Philippines 2025 Talent Summit. He spoke about the importance of preparing the Filipino workforce for the future and emphasized that the Philippines must keep pace with other Southeast Asian countries in developing workforce skills.
Learning from Regional Leaders
Secretary Laguesma pointed out that countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have already started improving their workforce capabilities. Indonesia focuses on teaching new skills for the digital economy. Malaysia is investing heavily in training programs. Singapore aims to reskill 97% of its employees, and Thailand funds programs that help workers adapt to labor market changes.
Driving Public-Private Collaboration
He emphasized the need for the Philippines to take similar steps to stay competitive. According to him, collaboration between the government and the private sector is crucial in addressing workforce development challenges.
“We need to work together to identify the skills that are needed for the future and make sure that our workers have them,” he said.
Plans for Workforce Readiness
The Department of Labor and Employment has already created plans to tackle these issues. These include the Labor and Employment Plan 2023–2028 and the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP). Both initiatives aim to equip Filipino workers with relevant and future-ready skills for today’s economy.
Encouraging Private Sector Involvement
Secretary Laguesma urged the private sector to get involved in both developing and implementing these plans. He emphasized that building a skilled and professional workforce that can compete globally requires strong participation from businesses.
Moving Forward with Purpose
Secretary Laguesma’s talk served as a strong call to action. He made it clear that the Philippines must take a proactive approach to workforce development. Through close collaboration, the government and private sector can help Filipino workers gain the skills they need to succeed in the evolving global economy.
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The photos featured in this article were sourced from the official AmCham Philippines Facebook page.
