A VAST majority of Filipino employers are willing to offer higher starting salaries to job graduates who hold micro-credentials or skills certifications, according to a report released yesterday by online learning platform Coursera.
The Coursera Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2026, which surveyed over 3,500 employers, learners, and higher education leaders across seven countries, found that 89 percent of employers in the Philippines would pay a premium for these specialized qualifications.
Furthermore, 36 percent of those surveyed expressed willingness to offer more than a 15 percent salary increase specifically for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) micro-credentials, the company added.
The findings highlight a decisive shift toward skills-first hiring in the Philippines, Coursera said. According to the report, 96 percent of Filipino employers hired at least three candidates with micro-credentials over the past year, while 77 percent noted that credentialed applicants advance more rapidly through recruitment pipelines.
The workforce evolution comes amid a regional push for digital upskilling. A report by Google estimates that AI integration could unlock approximately $50.7 billion in productivity and cost benefits for the Philippines by 2030, an opportunity heavily reliant on targeted skills training.
“As AI reshapes the workplace, employers are placing a premium on candidates who can prove they have practical, job-ready skills. In the Philippines, micro-credentials are no longer just a differentiator – they are becoming an essential signal of employability,” said Ashutosh Gupta, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Coursera.
The report noted that 85 percent of Filipino graduates holding micro-credentials successfully secured a role aligned with their field of study within 12 months of graduation. (ABS-CBN News)
