Marcos calls for job-focused education amid skills shortages

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —AFP file photo MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday called on schools and businesses to ensure that education and training programs equip Filipinos with skills that match the needs of a changing labor market. He said this during his visit to Lipa-Malvar Estate, Batangas State University (BSU) LIMA Campus, in Malvar and Lipa City, Batangas. His visit also marks the 1st Anniversary of JERA-Aboitiz Power Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE). Article continues after this advertisement READ: Zero funding for DepEd’s Aral Program under 2027 NEP “Our people deserve the skills that allow them to find meaningful work, build careers, and contribute to the growth of our economy and our country. At the same time, education should also address the needs of our industries and demands of our society,” Marcos said. “The challenge before us is clear: As our industries evolve, we must ensure that our people are equipped to grow with them,” he also said. Marcos cited a 2021 study by the Asian Development Bank, which revealed that around a third of college graduates are employed in jobs that are designed specifically for those with non-college education. The same study said two-thirds of technical-vocational education and training graduates are employed in occupations unrelated to the expected outcomes of their training programs. Article continues after this advertisement Additionally, the labor force surveys show the prevalence of hard-to-fill occupations, which Marcos said 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,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement The BSU LIMA Campus was established on June 19, 2025, in partnership with Aboitiz Infracapital Economic Estates, which donated 10 hectares of land within the LIMA Estate to the BSU for the development of its new engineering and technology campus. The GTCOE, meanwhile, which celebrates its first anniversary, is a technical training facility for engineers and technical professionals in the power sector located at the LIMA Commercial Center in the LIMA estate. /gsg Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.