Women in STEM
ILO holds first STEM for Workforce Readiness Technical Working Group Meeting
With the goal of developing an overall strategy on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) for Workforce Readiness and Development, the ILO hosted the first Technical Working Group Meeting with the support of the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.
The International Labour Organization held the first Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) for Workforce Readiness and Development Technical Working Group Meeting on 30 January 2020 in Makati City.
The Technical Working Group consisted of representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DEPED), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the University of the Philippines College of Education Center for STEM Education. The Technical Working Group was created to develop an multi-sectoral strategy for STEM for workforce readiness and development.
“Technological advances including artificial intelligence, automation and robotics are rapidly transforming jobs and the skills workers need in the Philippines. The impact is greatest in STEM sectors where the majority of jobs require not only technical knowledge, but also higher cognitive and communication skills,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
The ILO estimates that 49 per cent of employment or over 17 million jobs face the risk of automation in the Philippines. Women are employed predominantly in jobs requiring low STEM skills and are more likely than men to losing their job as a consequence of automation.
“We need to seize the opportunities that the Future of Work offers. These transformative changes at work will mark the working lives of young people entering labour markets. Investment in skills and training that focuses on STEM competencies will be a key to a successful transition to the Future of Work,” said Hassan.
With technology heavily influencing the nature of jobs, there has been a growing demand for STEM competencies. STEM competencies include Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity or more popularly known as the 4Cs. Processes and attitudes related to these skills are associated with subjects in science and mathematics, engineering and technology.
“Urgent action is needed in each country to increase investment in people’s capabilities and the institutions of work and harnessing opportunities for decent and sustainable work. We hope through the STEM Workforce Readiness Technical Working Group we can design a national strategy to ensure workforce readiness through social dialogue between governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations said Hassan.
The Technical Working Group is scheduled to hold the STEM for Workforce Readiness Mapping Workshop on 24 February 2020.
The Meeting was organized by the ILO Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme with the goal of developing a strategy for STEM for Workforce Readiness. The ILO Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme in the Philippines is funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The programme seeks to provide women with critical soft and technical STEM-related skills, employability and leadership training coupled with targeted mentorship to help women gain quality employment and advancement opportunities in STEM-related jobs.
National Project Coordinator
Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme
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The Technical Working Group consisted of representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DEPED), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the University of the Philippines College of Education Center for STEM Education. The Technical Working Group was created to develop an multi-sectoral strategy for STEM for workforce readiness and development.
“Technological advances including artificial intelligence, automation and robotics are rapidly transforming jobs and the skills workers need in the Philippines. The impact is greatest in STEM sectors where the majority of jobs require not only technical knowledge, but also higher cognitive and communication skills,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
The ILO estimates that 49 per cent of employment or over 17 million jobs face the risk of automation in the Philippines. Women are employed predominantly in jobs requiring low STEM skills and are more likely than men to losing their job as a consequence of automation.
“We need to seize the opportunities that the Future of Work offers. These transformative changes at work will mark the working lives of young people entering labour markets. Investment in skills and training that focuses on STEM competencies will be a key to a successful transition to the Future of Work,” said Hassan.
With technology heavily influencing the nature of jobs, there has been a growing demand for STEM competencies. STEM competencies include Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity or more popularly known as the 4Cs. Processes and attitudes related to these skills are associated with subjects in science and mathematics, engineering and technology.
“Urgent action is needed in each country to increase investment in people’s capabilities and the institutions of work and harnessing opportunities for decent and sustainable work. We hope through the STEM Workforce Readiness Technical Working Group we can design a national strategy to ensure workforce readiness through social dialogue between governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations said Hassan.
The Technical Working Group is scheduled to hold the STEM for Workforce Readiness Mapping Workshop on 24 February 2020.
The Meeting was organized by the ILO Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme with the goal of developing a strategy for STEM for Workforce Readiness. The ILO Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme in the Philippines is funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The programme seeks to provide women with critical soft and technical STEM-related skills, employability and leadership training coupled with targeted mentorship to help women gain quality employment and advancement opportunities in STEM-related jobs.
For more information please contact:
Ms Linartes ViloriaNational Project Coordinator
Women in STEM Workforce Readiness and Development Programme