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MANILA – Only one out of every 10 people applying for a job with a business process outsourcing company makes the grade – a situation that, if left unchecked, would result in a shortfall of qualified workers in the next five years, according to the local industry.
“While many Filipinos apply for work in IT-BPO companies, at present the hiring rate is just five percent to 10 percent. Most applicants do not make the cut because they lack the necessary qualifications, skills, and professional expertise,” Benedict Hernandez, president of Business Process Association of the Philippines, said in a statement.
To achieve its $25 billion revenue target by 2016, the industry must address the looming labor shortfall between now and 2016, he said.
In 2011, the local industry directly employed 638,000 people providing voice, back-office, creative, information technology, software development, health information management, and other services to companies around the world.
To address the talent hurdle, Hernandez said BPAP has undertaken a series of initiatives in cooperation with key government agencies to attract talent and improve near-hire skill sets.
He said BPAP is also reaching out to individuals who may be unaware of the opportunities the industry provides, especially in complex, non-voice services.
“We recently launched a series of educational and information initiatives to encourage Filipinos to work in the IT-BPO industry because we found that, in many cases, people are unaware of the opportunities that our industry provides. Over 30 percent of industry revenues is generated by non-voice, complex services delivered in a continually expanding, broad range of functional areas and industries," Hernandez said.
He said BPAP is working with the International Labor Organization and the Department of Labor and Employment-Occupational Health and Safety Center to develop an integrated approach to providing responsive working conditions and promoting healthy lifestyles among employees.
“It’s obviously in the best interest of individual IT-BPO companies and the IT-BPO industry as a whole to take care of their employees and balance the impact of work-related factors. Our industry is characterized by organizations that strive to provide a comfortable, interesting work environment; opportunities to pursue outside interests; and, personal development initiatives,” he added.
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