Filipino workers want to upskill in AI, but poor internet access and lack of time are hurdles

MANILA, Philippines — Knowing how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a must-have digital skill for workers in the Philippines, a new study shows, but the country’s poor internet infrastructure is also the top hurdle for those who want to self-study.

A 2023 study conducted by The Economist Impact and supported by Google shows that 42% of Filipino employees want to acquire new digital skills related to AI and Machine Learning (ML), among others — a rate higher than their Asia-Pacific neighbors (33%).

However, despite the demand for opportunities to upskill, around 41% of Filipinos said that poor internet access is a major hindrance to enrolling in online courses while nearly 40% said they don’t have the time required to invest in learning new skills.

Course fees were cited as a barrier by 30% of respondents, while another 30% noted the absence of training opportunities in their workplaces as a hurdle.

However, the survey also shows that most Filipinos only consider AI and ML skills as the 7th most important digital skill to learn, with IT support (65%) and data analysis and visualization (55%) topping the list.

With Filipinos appearing to exhibit higher-than-average interest in digital upskilling compared to the Asia-Pacific region, Google Philippines’ Yves Gonzales said this implies that there is a substantial “gap” in the knowledge of Filipino workers who already see the importance of digital skills but don’t have it.

The recent surge in popularity of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has ushered wild speculations about how AI could dramatically change workplaces and the availability of jobs in the market.

A recent study by the United Nations' International Labor Organization found that the wave of