SM Investments moves to close skills gap with training programs

SM Investments Corporation is stepping up efforts to tackle the Philippines’ workforce skills gap by aligning its various businesses with government programs that promote job training and apprenticeships in tech and other high-demand sectors.

With operations across retail, property, banking, and investments, SM supports the recently enacted Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework. The law promotes public-private partnerships to develop apprenticeships and training programs aligned with industry needs.

“SM is able to function at its optimum because of the skills of our people. As our businesses continue to grow, so too is our need for more skilled and resilient professionals to add to our workforce. We shall continue to do our share to upskill and professionalize the Filipino workforce to make them competitive in the ever-evolving job market,” said SM Investments President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio.

He added that SM’s responsibility to contribute to a skilled, resilient workforce goes beyond employing them within the SM ecosystem.

“Whether they work for us or even in other companies, we are committed to equipping them with the right tools, as we have been doing so with our investments in education through institutions like the National University and Asia-Pacific College, both non-profits and of course the SM Foundation, which has been graduating scholars for more than 40 years,” DyBuncio said.

As of 2024, SM employs over 142,000 people nationwide across its businesses, making it one of the country’s largest private-sector employers. Most jobs are in sales, engineering, IT, and other STEM fields.

Teresita Sy-Coson, SM Investments vice chairperson, sits on the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Education and Jobs group, a public-private partnership formed in 2022 to address employment gaps.

A key initiative from this partnership is the J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) program, which has held 244 job fairs in SM malls nationwide from 2024 through May 2025. The events drew 8,095 employers and 149,626 job seekers, resulting in 20,616 hires on the spot.

BDO Unibank, part of the SM Group, recently launched an accelerated hiring program targeting IT and cybersecurity professionals, with openings in project management, cloud technologies, security analysis, and customer relationship management.

In education, the SM Foundation welcomed more than 1,100 new college scholars in 2024, its largest batch to date. Since its founding, the program has produced over 4,600 graduates. A recent alumni homecoming featured 925 graduates sharing their career journeys, with most now employed and 71% pursuing further studies.

The scholarship program provides full tuition coverage, enrichment activities, part-time jobs, internships, and potential career opportunities within the SM Group.

National University, acquired by SM in 2008, is expanding its campuses with a goal of reaching 100,000 students by 2027. Its programs include traditional courses and future-focused offerings such as BS Computer Science with specializations in Digital Forensics and Machine Learning, and BS Information Technology with specializations in Mobile and Web Applications and Multimedia Arts.

Asia Pacific College, founded in 1991 as a partnership between SM Foundation and IBM Philippines, emphasizes an industry-based curriculum combining classroom learning and hands-on experience. Its Multimedia Arts program merges technology and creativity, reflecting current industry tools. APC reported that 97.28% of its 2024 graduates have secured employment.