In the Philippines, home to over 115 million people, around 4% are unemployed—a number that doesn’t seem too high at first. But for many Filipinos, landing and keeping a job is a lot more complicated than it looks. The usual excuse? “Lack of education.”
It’s a narrative I’ve heard countless times. Politicians frequently pledge to improve the educational system and increase funding for the Department of Education, hoping it will create a brighter future for the nation (and maybe brighten their own political prospects). Parents work tirelessly and sacrifice so much just to send their children to school, believing that “formal” education is their family’s best shot at a lighter, more stable life. This deep faith in education reflects a broader trend: Filipinos often rely on educational attainment as the key to breaking free from the cycle of hardship. But is education truly the deciding factor?
Aside from gaps in education, strict job requirements, limited career mobility, and generational differences, all play a huge role in keeping people from finding work. In this article, we’ll dig into the real reasons why so many Filipinos struggle to enter the workforce and why education might just be a small piece of a much bigger puzzle. Let’s start with one of the biggest issues.
Lack of Job Preparation Programs in Schools
Filipino schools often put more focus on academics, leaving students ill-prepared for the practical side of job hunting. Things like writing résumés, understanding taxes and labor laws, or even preparing for interviews are rarely covered—if at all. As a result, fresh graduates step into the workforce with little idea of how to navigate the hiring process. This puts them at a disadvantage, especially when compared to other countries with systems better geared toward helping students smoothly launch their careers.
And once they start looking for work, things don’t get any easier.
High Demands for Entry-Level Jobs
In the Philippines, entry-level jobs often require a bachelor’s degree—even for roles that primarily rely on soft skills and basic training, like waiting tables or data entry. Where else would a basic office assistant role ask for a college degree? In the Philippines, that’s where.
I’ve discussed the over-the-topness of this with my friends and colleagues many times, and we all agree that it feels like employers are overvaluing formal education and overlooking real-world experience. Of course, it’s not about underestimating these roles—they’re essential and require specific skills. But the skills needed are often practical, on-the-job abilities rather than something found in a bachelor’s curriculum. It’s almost as if the degree itself is proof of skill and competence, even though the role hardly taps into the knowledge the degree promises.
Filipino employers seem to place a higher value on having a degree than on practical experience and skills, even when the job itself demands little more than basic or soft skills. This emphasis on formal education means that many qualified individuals with hands-on experience are overlooked simply because they lack a degree. Which is wild. Real-world skills gained outside the classroom can often be just as, if not more, relevant to the job. That’s why some Filipinos, like your favorite coconut vendor on the street, choose to create their own opportunities. While it works for some, it’s not an easy fix for everyone and highlights the resilience needed to overcome unrealistic job expectations.
Difficulty in Changing Careers
Another reason why so many Filipinos may struggle to find work is the lack of career flexibility. In other countries, switching career paths is often more manageable. A friend of mine from Australia explained how the process there is much easier, with opportunities for retraining programs and industries that actively support people looking to switch careers, regardless of their previous field.
There are also factors such as educational barriers and age biases that often make career changes challenging. For mid-career Filipinos hoping to switch to a different field, especially one like tech, there are significant hurdles like high retraining costs and limited entry-level opportunities. The lack of programs dedicated to this or employer support for those looking to change careers further complicates the process, leaving many feeling stuck in their current fields, regardless of their transferable skills or potential.
Big Changes in the Workforce, Especially in Tech
One of the biggest shifts happening in the workforce today is the rise of layoffs, especially in tech. Since the pandemic, companies have realized they can streamline operations and reduce costs by employing fewer workers. But losing a job is never easy. For Filipinos who have experienced getting laid off, what comes next?
For many, this means either finding a new job or considering a career change. Here’s where the next challenge comes into play: breaking into a new field often requires significant time, effort, and money to learn new skills, take on entry-level roles, and essentially start over. Just thinking about it can be overwhelming. The financial and emotional toll is even harder to ignore, especially when opportunities in the current field are limited. But Filipinos are known for their resilience—aren’t they?
Resilient in Natural Disasters, But Not Always in Job Loss
Another challenge many Filipinos may face when trying to find work is the emotional impact of job loss. While Filipinos are admired for their resilience in the face of natural disasters like typhoons, that same strength doesn’t always carry over when it comes to bouncing back from unemployment.
Losing a job can feel like a major emotional blow, and even with financial or emotional support, some still find it difficult to get back up. And I get it, I’ve been there. The weight of uncertainty or fear of starting over can stretch out the job search, especially when the support available isn’t enough to combat feelings of self-doubt or lack of motivation.
This emotional toll is made worse by societal pressures. In many Filipino communities, there’s an unspoken (sometimes, too spoken) expectation to constantly succeed, which can make job loss feel even more isolating. Oftentimes, this pressure comes from family—whether it’s the need to help provide or meet expectations set by older family members. It can also be deeply ingrained in oneself: the constant belief that you need to be better and achieve more to be successful.
The longer someone remains unemployed, the more challenging it becomes to break free from the shame or embarrassment associated with it. In a society where having a stable job is often seen as a measure of personal worth, losing that sense of security can have a huge negative effect on someone’s self-esteem and mental health. It’s not just about finding a job; it’s about reclaiming a sense of purpose and dignity that was tied to that role.
Generational Gaps and Conflicting Priorities
With the growing trend of self-care and well-being, younger Filipinos are increasingly prioritizing mental health, seeking jobs that offer a better work-life balance and respect personal boundaries. Yet, many workplaces still cling to outdated models that demand long hours and high stress. Older generations sometimes view this shift as a lack of resilience or ambition, with some labeling the younger workers as “weak.”
This generational divide creates friction in the workplace, where misunderstandings around work values can lead to a lack of trust, making the environment “toxic.” For many younger Filipinos, these challenges stack up, making it no surprise that they are hesitant to accept or stay in roles where they feel undervalued or misunderstood. Without changes in workplace culture and mindset, this divide will only widen, leaving both generations struggling to understand one another and find common ground.
The issue of unemployment in the Philippines is more complex than simply a lack of education. While formal education is important, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Factors like inadequate job preparation in schools, outdated job requirements, the difficulty of switching careers, and a generational divide over work values all contribute to the struggles Filipinos face in the workforce.
To truly address unemployment, we need to look beyond education and focus on creating a system that helps people prepare better for the job market, makes it easier to switch careers, and encourages healthier work environments. Only then can we actually start bridging the gap between education, experience, and opportunity.
