Tech-voc graduates Philippines are showing employment rates and monthly earnings comparable to some bachelor’s degree holders, according to a new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Technical-vocational graduates in the Philippines are showing employment rates and monthly pay comparable to those of some bachelor’s degree undergraduates, according to a new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Using data from the 2023 Labor Force Survey, the study found that those who completed technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs earn an average of PHP14,160.38 per month.

Both technical-vocational and higher education pathways play complementary roles in workforce development. However, existing education and training systems are not always aligned with the competencies required by priority sectors under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028.

Titled, “Assessing the Current and Future Middle Skills in the Philippines: Inputs for Policy Agenda,” the study,authored by PIDS consultants Richard Monteverde, Ivy Mejia, Louie Dasas, Saddam Bazer, Charissa Mae Garcia, and Carina Aquino, examines how different institutions define “middle skills” and evaluates whether existing education and training programs correspond to employer needs.

A key challenge identified is the absence of a unified national framework for defining “middle skills” across government agencies and industry stakeholders.

Currently, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) apply different classifications, resulting in fragmented training programs and uneven competency standards.

This lack of alignment, compounded by weak industry engagement in program design, limits the effectiveness of workforce development initiatives.

The study also found that existing curricula are not always responsive to evolving labor demands across PDP priority sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, infrastructure, and information technology, where demand is rising for skills in areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, digital services, advanced construction technologies, renewable energy, and data analytics.

As technological change reshapes production systems and job roles, the study warns that middle-skills training may fall behind emerging workforce needs without coordinated reforms in curriculum design, training regulations, and institutional collaboration.

“In the absence of a unified definition and structured policy framework, middle-skills training risks obsolescence in the face of technological change and shifting economic conditions,” the authors warned.

To address these gaps, the authors call for a more harmonized and data-driven approach to middle-skills development, supported by stronger industry partnerships and policy coordination across education and training agencies.

By aligning skills development programs with sectoral demands, the study notes that middle-skills pathways can offer practical routes to employment while supporting workforce adaptability and national competitiveness.