Future of Work in the Philippines: Assessing the impact of technological changes on occupations and sectors

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work devoted to advancing social justice and promoting decent work. The ILO brings together governments, employers and workers to drive a human-centred approach to the future of work through employment creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

The world of work is undergoing a major process of transformation driven technological innovations, demographic shifts, climate change and globalization. In response to these challenges, a Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work was adopted in 2019 at the 108th session of the International Labour Conference. The Declaration issues a call to action to ensure all people benefit from the changing world of work and promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment and decent work.

The ILO undertook research and consultations to better understand and measure the impact of technological change in the context of national strategies related to Industry 4.0, in particular the adoption of artificial intelligence at the workplace, as regards job disruption, job transformation and its implications for skills development and sectoral approaches. The research and consultations adopted a gender lens to improve the understanding of existing policy responses, the labour market situation and potential differential impacts of technological change for women and men. The research and consultations were led by the ILO Country Office for the Philippines in collaboration with the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and the ILO Regional Economic and Social Analysis Unit.

The research project outputs will inform government, employers’ and workers’ organizations in the Philippines as well as the Australian Embassy in the Philippines in the development of sectoral initiatives for skills development and sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment and decent work for women and men.