Green, digital skills shift in construction drives youth employment push

MANILA (ILO News) - As the Philippines' construction sector strives to keep up with digitalization and climate demands, a growing skills gap risks leaving many young workers behind. To address this, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its partners are pushing to place youth at the forefront of the industry's shift toward greener, more technology-driven practices.

At a Partnership forum on DigiGreen construction skills held on 25 March 2026 in Quezon City, government, industry, and training institutions came together with a clear objective of equipping Filipino youth with the competencies needed to access decent work in a rapidly evolving construction landscape.

The urgency is clear. Construction, one of the country's largest employers, is undergoing a "twin transition," driven by digital technologies and the need for environmentally sustainable building practices. Without targeted training, many workers risk being excluded from emerging opportunities.

"The challenges and opportunities from the twin digital and green transitions are felt much more in the Philippines," said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines. "Our focus is to ensure that training programmes are accessible, especially for youth from low- to medium-skill backgrounds, who stand to benefit the most from these new job opportunities."

At the centre of the initiative are two key training areas: Building Information Modeling (BIM) and green construction skills. These are no longer niche capabilities but are quickly becoming industry standards globally.

BIM, a digital tool that enables more efficient and sustainable building design and management, is already required in large-scale construction projects in countries such as Korea, Singapore, and Dubai. Its adoption in the Philippines signals a shift toward higher productivity, lower costs, and reduced environmental impact.

"BIM and green construction skills are among the most important starting points for leveraging the digital and green transitions to improve youth employment in this sector," said Hochul Shin, Chief Technical Adviser of the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme.

For young workers, the implications are significant. Gaining these skills can open pathways to more specialized roles, higher wages, and longer-term career stability, moving beyond traditional, often precarious construction jobs.

The forum also marked the formal handover of training modules to key Philippine institutions, including the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF), and the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA). The move aims to ensure that training translates into real employment opportunities through stronger alignment between government and industry.

This initiative is part of the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme's Advancing Digital and Green Skills for Youth in ASEAN project, which seeks to future-proof the region's workforce.

As the construction sector evolves, partners and stakeholders highlighted the need to invest in youth skills today, which is critical to building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable industry tomorrow.

For further information please contact Minette Rimando of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.