Key Summary
- The Philippine IT-BPM industry is projected to reach 1.1 million new direct jobs by 2028, with 54% of those roles created outside Metro Manila.
- Annual industry revenue is forecast to hit $59 billion by 2028, reflecting a 10.4% compound annual growth rate.
- In-demand roles span a wide range, from software developers and data scientists to customer service representatives and medical transcriptionists.
- Businesses outsourcing to the Philippines gain access to a large, highly literate talent pool without the minimum headcount commitments typical of traditional BPO firms.
Outsourcing to the Philippines: The Philippine IT-BPM Industry Projects Up to 1.1 Million Jobs through 2028
When talking about outsourcing to the Philippines, the most common jobs that are being hired are usually IT, voice-based customer support, software development, and healthcare information management.
IT-BPM sectors are largely delegating IT-enabled services through outsourcing offshore or remotely to meet the demands of the market.
Global talent network Andela surveyed 100 CTOs and VPs of Engineering from a combination of high-growth startups (above 200 employees) and large enterprises. Its Remote Engineering survey found that prior to Covid, 13% of engineering teams were fully remote. As a result of the pandemic, that number has increased to 74%.
Philippine IT-BPM: A Growing Industry
The Philippine Business Process Outsourcing, particularly the Philippine Information Technology – Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Industry, is an example of an offshore industry, and a key factor contributing to the Philippines’ economic growth.
The Philippine IT-BPM industry projects up to 1.1 million direct jobs in the next six years.
The Philippine Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry, also helps promote growth in the BPO industry through hiring outside Manila, the country’s capital.
In fact, 54 percent of the 1.1 million job target will be in the countryside. This will bring the sector’s total headcount to 2.5 million by 2028. The industry also has a forecasted growth rate of 8.5 percent.
The industry also has the potential to nearly double in size as its annual revenue is likely to reach $59 billion in 2028, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 10.4 percent.
What IT-BPM Jobs are In-Demand?
Outsourcing to the Philippines provides a wide range of talent pool, which is why it has become a global destination where businesses can easily outsource services or hire and build a remote team of highly literate and experienced IT professionals.
The following are among the list of Cross-cutting In-Demand and Hard-to-Fill Occupations in the Information Technology – Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Key Employment Generator (KEG):
Accountant
Animator
Business Analyst
Call Center Agent
Computer ProgrammerCustomer Service Associate
Customer Service Representative
Data Scientist
Graphic Designer
Human Resource Manager
Information Technology (IT) Specialist
Management Information Analyst
Manager
Medical Transcriptionist
Real Estate Broker
Software DeveloperWebsite Designer
Website Developer
You can fill these in-demand Information Technology – Business Process Management roles when you outsource offshore from the Philippines.
IT-BPM Industry Growth
IBPAP said the number of full-time employees (FTEs) in the country increased by 71,000 bringing the total industry headcount to 1.3 million, up 5.8 percent from 1.23 million in 2018.
IT-BPM revenues and employment grew in 2019. In a statement by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), revenues of the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry grew by 7.1 percent to $26.3 billion last year from $24.5 billion in 2018.
In addition, the number of full-time employees (FTEs) of the sector in the country increased by 23,000 in 2020, increasing the total industry headcount to 1.32 million.
In 2021, the industry grew by 9.1 percent, or by 120,000 FTEs year-on-year, bringing the total number of IT-BPM workers in the country to 1.44 million amid the implementation of remote working setup and the continued economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Find the Right IT-BPM Staff with Connext Global Solutions
Connext Global Solutions is an established business process outsourcing partner that provides flexible and scalable solutions that unlocks client growth.
Connext Global Solutions can create the value of an offshore subsidiary at any scale Typical outsourcing firms require a minimum commitment of a minimum of 5 up to 50 employees. Connext ensures that the client is getting the highest level of talent for the required position.
Work with Connext today.
Learn how the thriving IT-BPM sector in the Philippines is creating job opportunities. Visit our blog to explore the growth and future prospects of outsourcing in this dynamic industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the Philippines a preferred destination for IT-BPM outsourcing?
The Philippines offers a large pool of highly literate, English-proficient IT and business process professionals. The country has a well-established outsourcing infrastructure, a strong cultural alignment with Western business practices, and a government-backed industry roadmap actively supporting sector growth through 2028.
2. How fast is the Philippine IT-BPM industry actually growing?
Growth has been consistent even through disruption. The industry grew 9.1% in 2021 alone, adding 120,000 full-time employees year-on-year. Revenue climbed from $24.5 billion in 2018 to $26.3 billion in 2019, and projections point to $59 billion by 2028.
3. What roles are hardest to fill locally that the Philippines can supply?
The Philippine IT-BPM sector specifically identifies data scientists, software developers, business analysts, IT specialists, and management information analysts as hard-to-fill roles that offshore hiring can address. These are high-skill positions that many businesses struggle to source competitively in their home markets.
4. Is outsourcing to the Philippines only viable for large enterprises?
Not at all. Unlike traditional outsourcing firms that require a minimum of 5 to 50 employees, providers like Connext Global Solutions allow businesses to outsource at any scale, making it accessible for growing companies that need flexibility without large upfront commitments.
5. Has remote work affected the quality or availability of Philippine IT-BPM talent?
Remote work has expanded it. Prior to COVID-19, only 13% of engineering teams globally were fully remote. That figure rose to 74% post-pandemic, and Philippine IT-BPM workers adapted quickly. The industry added 23,000 FTEs in 2020 despite the pandemic, demonstrating workforce resilience.
6. Will IT-BPM growth in the Philippines be concentrated only in Manila?
No. This is one of the more significant shifts in the industry. Of the 1.1 million projected new jobs, 54% are targeted for countryside locations outside Manila. This geographic expansion broadens the talent pool and reduces concentration risk for businesses that depend on Philippine offshore teams.
References:
dole.gov.ph. The Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) JobsFit 2022 Labor Market Information Report. Department of Labor and Employment.
Andrea E. San Juan. “IBPAP projects 1.1-million direct countryside jobs in next 6 years”. Business Mirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/09/29/ibpap-projects-1-1-million-direct-countryside-jobs-in-next-6-years/. September 29, 2022. Accessed September 28, 2022.
Katlene O. Cacho. “IT-BPM roadmap 2028 to add 1.1M new jobs, $59B revenues”. Yahoo News Philippines. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/bpm-roadmap-2028-add-1-105600717.html. September 28, 2022. Accessed September 28, 2022.
Anna Leah E. Gonzales. “IT-BPM revenues, employment rise in 2019”. Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/15/business/companies/it-bpm-revenues-employment-rise-in-2019/724915. May 15, 2020. Accessed September 28, 2022.
Aleta Nieva Nishimori. “IT-BPM sector posts 2020 growth despite pandemic pinch”. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/24/21/it-bpm-sector-posts-2020-growth-despite-pandemic-pinch. April 24 2021. Accessed September 28, 2022.
