Leading Telco Network PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications joined Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) in preparing around 6,000 youth trainees for jobs of the future under the organization’s JobsNext program. 

“Together with PBEd, PLDT and Smart are working closely with local government units across the country to equip the youth with skills that will make them more attractive to potential employers,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and Head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart. 

JobsNext is implemented in seven areas namely: Laguna, Quezon City and Sorsogon in Luzon; Eastern Samar, Samar province and Negros Occidental in the Visayas; and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao. In support of local LGUs, PLDT has deployed 100 Home WiFi units while Smart has also dispatched 100 prepaid Pocket WiFi devices to these areas. 

“As workplaces become increasingly technology-driven, it is important to ensure that our young people have the right tools to adapt and succeed in their chosen careers. JobsNext is committed to providing our youth with the training and resources they need to be future-ready,” said PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas. 

The training program focuses on developing foundational skills in digital literacy, basic technology concepts, advanced IT learning tracks, and specialized training on cloud and assistive technologies. In relation to this, the World Bank report highlights the challenges faced by Filipino youth in the labor market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government should provide targeted support by incorporating green and digital areas in skills development programs. Surveys show that the Philippine workforce lags in foundational digital skills compared to its regional peers.

The Labor Department predicts that emerging opportunities will come from the Green, I.T., Platform, and Creative industries. The IT-BPM sector is also expected to grow to a USD 59-billion industry within three years, opening over a million new jobs. The Support for the JobsNext program aligns with PLDT and Smart’s goal to produce industry-ready graduates for the digital demands of industries. Thus aligning PLDT’s initiatives with the government’s digitalization efforts of connecting, digitizing, and empowering Filipinos.