DTI, WEF Partner to Upskill Filipino MSME Workforce

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reinforced its partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) through the “Future of Jobs Accelerator for MSME Development in the Philippines,” aimed at boosting the productivity and resilience of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.

Held on May 2 at the DTI Boardroom in Makati City, the high-level dialogue followed DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque’s participation in the WEF Annual Meeting in Geneva in January 2025, underscoring the country’s deepening ties with global innovation leaders.

Trade Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona, currently serving as Officer-in-Charge of the DTI, welcomed national and international stakeholders to the meeting, which was co-chaired by DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, Atty. Edwin Lacierda of SM Investments Corporation, and Prep Palacios, Acting Country Director of Google Philippines.

A key highlight was the presentation of the DTI-WEF Joint Research and the Future of Jobs Accelerator framework by Till Alexander Leopold, Head of Inclusive Economies Practice at WEF, and Steffica Warwick, Lead of the Work, Wages, and Job Creation Mission.

The presenters stressed the urgent need to upskill MSME workers and accelerate digital and technological adoption to bridge the productivity gap between small firms and large enterprises.

According to the WEF Philippines Future of Jobs Workshop Report 2025, technological transformation is the leading force reshaping the labor market in the Philippines.

While MSMEs make up 99.6% of Philippine businesses, contribute 45.5% to gross domestic product, and employ 67% of the workforce, their worker productivity is only 29% of that in large enterprises.

The report projects that by 2030, 68 out of every 100 Filipino workers will require training, with 28 able to be upskilled in current roles and 27 needing full reskilling for new occupations.

The remaining 13 workers may not require training, though some could still face barriers to access upskilling programs, highlighting the need for inclusive and scalable strategies.

“This partnership is a vital step in equipping our MSMEs with the skills and tools they need to compete and grow in the digital economy,” said Assistant Secretary Bautista, who leads the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group overseeing the project.

The meeting also featured insights from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Deputy Director General Nelly Nita N. Dillera and Josephine C. Romero of the Private Sector Advisory Council–Education and Jobs Cluster.

They emphasized aligning private sector initiatives with national upskilling strategies to create sustainable job pathways and future-proof the MSME labor force.

DTI Assistant Secretaries Grace Baluyan and Domingo R. Tolentino Jr., along with Director Emma C. Asusano, shared ongoing regional MSME development programs that can serve as models for nationwide expansion.

The event concluded with a collaborative discussion exploring existing policy frameworks, opportunities for scaling up MSME support, and the role of strategic communication in driving awareness and participation.

Google, SM Investments, and other key stakeholders also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting MSME capacity-building through training, market access, and digital tools.

The Future of Jobs Accelerator for MSMEs is implemented under the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group with technical leadership from Director Lilian G. Salonga and Assistant Director Jo-Dann Darong.