The Philippines is one of the top outsourcing destinations in the world—all thanks to Filipinos who are known for their hospitality, diligence, and positive outlook on life.
Filipino employees are globally competitive with appropriate skills for any industry. This is one of the many reasons why foreign investors around the world are starting a business in the Philippines.
In this infographic, we’re going to break down the various qualities and characteristics of Filipinos that make them a great choice for foreign employers and outsourcing companies. Here’s what you need to know about Filipinos.
Demographics
The Philippines has a large and young population in the working age, with a median age of 23 years old. This contributes to the abundant manpower supply and strong workforce in the country.
According to the most recent statistics, there are over 70.1 million Filipinos over the age of 15 who are eligible to work.
Education
According to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority report, the simple literacy rate in the country is at 96.5% as of 2013, while the functional literacy rate is at 90.3% during the same year.
Simple literacy rate refers to Filipinos 10 years old and above who can read and write, while functional literacy rate refers to Filipinos 10 to 64 years old who can read, write, and perform basic computation skills.
Skills
English is the primary language of commerce and law in the Philippines, and it’s also the medium of instruction in schools.
According to the EF English Proficiency Index, the Philippines has a high English proficiency with a score of 60.33. It has the third highest English Proficiency score in Asia, after Singapore and Malaysia. It also ranks 13th out of 72 countries in the same English Proficiency Index report.
Filipinos are also proficient in using technological devices. The Microsoft Asia Pacific New World of Work Index reported that 59% of Filipino workers are highly confident in their computer skills. In fact, the country ranks 3rd out of the 12 markets surveyed (after India and Indonesia) in terms of their ability to succeed in a modern, digital landscape.
The report further shows that 75% of Filipino workers use 4 to 5 productivity tools such as email, cloud-sharing software, social media, collaboration tools, virtual meetings, and other online tools.
Culture
For over 300 years, the Philippines was colonized by Spain, and after that by the Japanese and the Americans. Their culture and traditions have been shaped through hundreds of years of being influenced by various nations and have resulted in a culture of openness and acceptance.
Filipinos are hardworking, adaptable, and responsive to industry demands. They’ve been adjusting to their colonizers’ demands and western influence since time immemorial, and they’re great at conforming.
Filipinos are warm, friendly, and respectful. They are also family oriented and will do what needs to be done to protect and serve their families, especially their elders. These cultural values and qualities translate to how they perform professionally.
Work Ethics
The importance that Filipinos place on respect for their elders is evident in the country’s Power Distance Index score of 94. In fact, the Philippines ranks the 4th highest in the world in terms of power distance.
Filipino employees respect their superiors and treat them with high regard. Filipinos accept established hierarchies and follow strict regulations and processes in the workplace.
According to the Asia Pacific New World of Work Index, 72.5% of Filipino workers respond to external clients in 4 hours. This shows that Filipinos attend to their clients and customers as quickly as they can, given their orientation to service. But, it’s not just service provision that Filipinos pay close attention to. They also make sure that they complete their tasks, and that they do it well.
Filipinos are known for their positive outlook on life, and many tourists and foreign employers notice how Filipinos are always smiling despite the many hardships they face. In fact, Jobstreet’s Philippines Job Satisfaction report confirms that 70% of Filipinos are happy with their jobs, proving how well-adjusted they are when it comes to their professional lives.
Bottom Line
Indeed, Filipinos have a competitive edge when it comes to adjusting to the modern and fast-paced digital work environment of today. They can work from any device and quickly learn new tools and technology for work. Best of all, their positive outlook and overall optimism transcend to how they perceive their jobs, employers, and customers.
Rocky Chan is a lawyer and business consultant who excels in corporate formation, immigration procedures, and client relations. In the last 7 years, he honed his craft in the field of foreign investment consultancy.
