Foundever® in the Philippines to aid in addressing Critical Skills Gap

MANILA— Foundever® in the Philippines is intensifying its efforts to bridge the nation’s critical skills gap, aligning with recent government initiatives designed to strengthen the Filipino workforce and prepare it for the future of work. 

The move comes at a crucial time, as recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reveals a rise in the unemployment rate to 3.7% in June 2025, with 1.95 million Filipinos unemployed, up from 1.62 million in June 2024.

Concurrently, a World Economic Forum (WEF) report indicates that two-thirds of Philippine employers identify a skills gap as a major barrier, with about 68% of Filipinos needing reskilling to meet evolving job demands (compared to 59% globally).

In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed the landmark Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act (Republic Act No. 12063), a measure designed to foster stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industries. This law aims to create a more direct alignment between academic training and the practical needs of the labor market, paving the way for flexible learning and micro-credentials.

Building on this momentum, the President established the Education and Workforce Development Group (EWDG) through Administrative Order No. 36 on August 13. Chaired by the President himself, this new body will serve as the central coordinating mechanism to harmonize policies and programs across various government agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The EWDG’s mandate is to formulate a 10-year National Education and Workforce Development Plan to address fragmentation and weak links between education and employment strategies.

Foundever in the Philippines is taking action to address the skills gap in the country. The company is developing and implementing programs that directly tackle the mismatch between the skills workers have and the skills employers need across various employment sectors.

Willy Lim, Vice President for HR, Marketing and Talent Acquisition of Foundever in the Philippines, China and Malaysia underscored the company’s commitment to building a globally competitive Filipino workforce.

“We have embraced a shared responsibility to build a globally competitive Filipino workforce by providing training programs that develop more than just technical skills, but also foster confidence, adaptability, and long-term career growth,” said Lim.

Among its key programs are the BPO Immersion Training for Senior High School (BITS) and strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Tuloy Foundation and Caritas Manila, which help prepare underprivileged youth for future careers. Foundever also works closely with the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) and the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) to operationalize the EBET Act and equip future talent with in-demand digital skills. “We believe that collaboration is the key to progress. By aligning our programs with government policies and industry needs, we are building more than careers—we are shaping futures,” said Lim.

“Together with TESDA, EdCom, and our academic partners, we remain committed to creating pathways for talent development, ensuring that the Philippines continues to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy,” he added.