Some of the Information Technology (IT) graduates need to look for opportunities, however, The Philippines is facing an oversupply in IT graduates in the year 2025.
According to the analysis of The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), IT-trained workers risks oversupplying by at least 172,000 positions. Consequently, STEM sectors like physical science, life science, engineering, mathematics, and statistics faces a huge downfall because of this matter.
Based on PIDS Senior Research Fellow Jose Ramon G. Albert, that the country's industry urgently needs more trained graduates in STEM fields. And the supply of IT Workers will likely exceed demand by 171,960 positions at the end of the year.
The undersupply in the STEM fields will be most obvious like by 2025. PIDS estimated the short gaps at 2025 at 13,964 workers in life science, 569,903 in engineering, 9,689 in physical science, and 13,285 in math and statistics.
Albert mentioned that, “While forecasts vary by industry and region, momentous change is underway. Governments have to cope with the risks of growing technological unemployment and inequality, and businesses with shrinking consumer bases. Our actions today will determine whether change will result in massive displacement of workers or the emergence of new opportunities.”
He noted that the main education system has to improvise through the distractions that was caused by the pandemic. He also stated that “Despite how much we’ve been spending on education, quality has deteriorated results and other outcomes.It’s partly because we are unable to have enough role models in school.”
Albert added that the education sector need to recognize we are already in the deep crisis because the standard of the education has been defective and will likely to be more poorer, the main cause being the pandemic. Students are also not learning from the gadgets and through online that they are using, causing a big problem. Having a generation of students not learning enough, especially in science.
Based on the Technical Committee of Commission of Higher Education, Laura T. David, that the agency is now monitoring The Science and Technology Training to check if the schools have sufficient facilities, the quality of teaching, and trained teaching staffs.
David also stated that the institutions are struggling to fill vacant positions when the teachers are long way to pursue the necessary advance degree to upgrade their qualifications, while funding is limited for hiring substitutes
Beatrice M. Laforga suggested that "Government support is needed that will encourage teaching staff to pursue their PhD" Meaning help might find in the form of helping find substitutes, also by adding current initiatives like Balik Scientist program.
While young Filipinos continue to pursue the field where it's left with widening gaps that industries can't even afford — how long will the looming mismatch will be a deeper crisis in the Philippines? Effect that are caused by the pandemic, the lack of skills in the school teachers. Except if the schools, government will act decisively to strengthen the STEM factor and support the trainees for higher qualification. The Philippines will risk entering the future where the workplace is lacking skills — but never a huge talent.
Written by Tracy M. Jarabelo, Insight PH
Tracy M. Jarabelo, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
