Philippine IT-BPM needs a talent push to hit $50.5Bn by 2028
- IBPAP targets up to $50.5 billion in revenue and 2.14 million jobs by 2028.
- A slower scenario puts 2028 revenue at $43.3 billion and jobs at 1.85 million.
- Its training program with TESDA and DICT has reached 25,500 learners.
- Talent readiness is among the limits on wider enterprise AI deployment.
PASAY, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry is targeting up to $50.5 billion in revenue and 2.14 million jobs by 2028, a goal its industry association ties to building a workforce ready for artificial intelligence (AI) and higher-value services.
Reaching the upper end would add $10.2 billion in revenue and 250,000 jobs from 2025 levels, while a slower-growth scenario would lift revenue to $43.3 billion but cut employment from 1.89 million to 1.85 million.
Talent readiness limits wider AI use
The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) presented a preview of its IT-BPM Roadmap 2028 at the International IT-BPM Summit 2026 in Pasay City, the Daily Tribune reported.
AI adoption is expanding across the sector, although broader enterprise deployment remains limited by talent readiness, legacy systems, data quality, governance, security and return-on-investment concerns.
IBPAP’s Enterprise-Based Education and Training program, run with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has reached 25,500 learners through 164 programs across 24 companies.
The program has also secured more than PHP100 million (about US$1.7 million) for industry training.
“The upper end of our 2028 outlook is completely within reach, but only if industry, government, and academe move together with real urgency,” said Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP’s president and CEO-designate.
Growth shifts to GCCs, healthcare and AI operations
Growth is expected to concentrate in global capability centers (GCCs), healthcare information management, banking and financial services, as well as AI operations, model evaluation, data services, animation and game development.
IBPAP has named Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, North America and Europe as priority markets, and it recently released a voluntary Ethical AI Use and Risk Governance Policy Framework.
“Responsible AI should not slow innovation,” Ilagan said.
Outgoing IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid said the sector must now translate its shift toward higher-value work into capabilities at scale.
“The next chapter belongs to the AI-Enabled Digital Filipino Worker,” Madrid said.
For buyers sourcing business process outsourcing (BPO) work in the Philippines, the roadmap points to a sector shifting toward AI operations, data services and healthcare information management.
Companies weighing a Philippine GCC, or comparing the top 40 BPO companies in the Philippines, can ask how providers are training staff for AI-enabled roles before the 2028 targets are tested.
Related news
- Philippine labor market stays resilient amid the AI boom · 22 Sep
- Philippines to reskill 10,000 BPO workers for AI · 15 Sep
- Philippine IT-BPM cuts its growth targets on AI · 17 Jul
Disclosure: Outsource Accelerator uses AI tools in the backend of its editorial workflow. Every article is reviewed and verified by a human editor before publication.
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