IT, BPM industry poised to hit 1.3M job target by 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The country's information technology and business process management industry is poised to hit its 1.3 million employment target by 2016 after an annual growth of 21 percent in 2012, the chief of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said on Tuesday.

IBPAP president and chief operating officer Jomari Mercado said the industry is likely to meet its goal after employing 776,794 in 2012, adding 137,066 net jobs from 2011.

He added that in terms of export revenues, industry earnings grew by 19 percent to $13.2 billion, well within the level required to keep the industry on track to reach its revenue goal of $25 billion by 2016.

"To reach our 2016 targets, we reiterate that it is imperative that we sustain and strengthen the work we are doing with government. We have received impressive support from President Aquino and his teams in the executive branch and we were able to pass key legislation needed by the industry,” Mercado said.

IBPAP and its partner associations reported that the healthcare information management posted the biggest increase in employment in the industry with an 80-percent growth in employment or 45,000 jobs in 2012.

Revenues from the sector soared to $460 million representing a 66-percent growth, following the game development sector.