The rapid growth of the digital economy in the Philippines is reshaping how Filipinos work, connect, and create value. As of 2024, the country’s digital economy was valued at $38.6  billion which accounts for 8.5 percent of national GDP. These advancements continue  to be driven by the rise of digital platform work and the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies. Filipino digital platform work earnings grew by 208% between 2019 and 2020, with an estimated 8.7 million Filipinos or around 20% of the workforce now earning income through digital platforms. Digital platform-based workers are a growing part of this ecosystem, with nearly 1.7 million engaged in digitally mediated work as of 2021.

Building on this momentum, the emerging new models of work in the Philippines present both significant opportunities and pressing challenges. Digital platforms have expanded economic participation by lowering barriers to entry, offering flexible work arrangements, and connecting Filipino workers to global markets. This has been especially transformative for many vulnerable stakeholders including women, youth, and workers outside urban centers. However, the rise of platform work also raises concerns around social protection, job security, fair compensation, and representation. As emerging technologies like AI and automation begin to redefine tasks across sectors, there is a critical need for policies that are both fit-for-purpose and locally grounded

Amidst this backdrop, the Tech for Good Institute convened a New Models of Work roundtable in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to explore the implications of these trends on workforce resilience, inclusive growth, and digital governance in the Philippines. It was attended by key stakeholders from the public and private sectors including government representatives, academics, digital platform executives, and civil society organisations. The roundtable was part of the New Models of Work series, which comprises four virtual discussions and three in person events to ground an understanding of regional work trends in local contexts.

Moderators and Participants

• Celine Dee, Assistant Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology
• Monchito Ibrahim, Convenor, Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation (ATIN)
• Sherwin Pelayo, Executive Director, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP)
• Jose Andoni Santos, Workforce Development Specialist, EDCOM 2
• Carl Javier, Executive Director, Data and Ethics PH
• Christine Dugay, Principal, Ipsos Strategy3
• Senando Santiago, Senior Lecturer, University of the Philippines College of Law
• Citra Nasruddin, Programmes Director, Tech for Good Institute
• Keith Detros, Programme Manager, Tech for Good Institute
• Regina Ng, Partnerships Lead, Tech for Good Institute
• Basilio Claudio, Programme Associate, Tech for Good Institute
• Vicah Villanueva, Programme Associate, Tech for Good Institute

Key Takeaways:

1. AI and Digital Platforms are Accelerating Transformations in the Filipino Workforce

The rise of AI and digital platforms is rapidly reshaping the Filipino workforce, introducing both new opportunities and critical challenges. AI technologies are beginning to redefine job roles across industries with some roles, like teachers, likely to be augmented, while others, such as bank tellers, face possible replacement. At the same time, digital platform work is becoming a significant livelihood source, especially outside Metro Manila, where about 40% of the BPO sector is projected to operate in 2028. Online freelancing has created economic opportunities for Filipinos, many from provinces without traditional business hubs. However, this shift has also led to growing precarity. Digital platform workers often trade job flexibility for limited or no access to social protection. Structural barriers, including limitations to the practice of professions and recognition of licenses across jurisdictions, and the lack of tax and legal clarity for digital platform workers, further compound their vulnerability. As AI adoption advances and platform work expands, these transformations demand policies that can both harness innovation and protect the workforce from deepening inequalities. The speed of AI evolution, especially given the rise of agentic AI systems, creates even more urgency to support workers.

2. Competency-Based Approaches and Pipelines are Needed to Close the Skills Gap

To address persistent workforce mismatches, competency-based education and career pathways must be at the core of workforce development strategies. Many learners fall through the cracks of disconnected education systems with little visibility into where they go or how they re-enter the pipeline. In response, several sectors are now developing skills frameworks focused on functional and enabling competencies at varying proficiency levels. These are being done under the Philippine Skills Framework Initiative that seeks to develop core competencies on an industry level. These frameworks are gradually being integrated into high school curricula, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training standards, and higher education programs. Yet, implementation remains uneven across sectors, with many lacking organised bodies or funding to develop tailored frameworks. The educational system also remains reactive to market needs, but there are further opportunities to anticipate or respond quickly to fast-evolving industry demands, especially in tech-related fields. A unified, data-driven, and sector-responsive skills pipeline is essential to ensure that education and training systems are aligned with the competencies required in a rapidly changing job landscape.

3. Fit-for-Purpose Policies are Needed to Promote Workforce Development

There is a need for more coherent and fit-for-purpose policies to support inclusive workforce development in the age of digital transformation. Current governance frameworks are siloed, and increased coordination is needed between education, economic, and industry agencies. A harmonised, whole-of-government approach is necessary to align workforce investments with national development goals. In regions like Region XIII (CARAGA) and Region IV-A (CALABARZON), emerging models of regional workforce development are linking higher education to priority local industries. However, scaling these approaches nationally requires political will, legal reforms, and stronger public-private partnerships. Laws must evolve to reflect the realities of gig and platform economies—addressing data privacy, copyright, and social protections for non-traditional workers. Equally critical is the need for open data policies to support evidence-based planning. Without accessible data and inter-agency coordination, policy responses will continue to lag behind technological change and labor market shifts.