Village Connect
In an age where technology is rapidly transforming the job market, SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) is stepping up to bridge the skills gap and help future-proof the Filipino workforce. As the parent company of one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates, SMIC is tapping into its vast business ecosystem—spanning retail, real estate, banking, and education—to align its workforce development efforts with the evolving demands of the economy.
SMIC is actively supporting the newly enacted Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework, which fosters collaboration between industry and educational institutions to offer hands-on training and apprenticeships tailored to real-world job needs. Through this initiative, SM is ensuring that Filipino workers gain practical, job-ready skills.
“Our people are our strength,” said Frederic C. DyBuncio, President and CEO of SMIC. “As our businesses expand, so does our need for skilled professionals. We’re committed to investing in people, whether they work with us or elsewhere.”
This commitment is deeply rooted in SM’s long-standing involvement in education. Through partnerships with institutions like National University (NU) and Asia Pacific College (APC), as well as its flagship SM Foundation, SM is paving the way for accessible and future-focused learning. These institutions offer forward-thinking programs in fields such as computer science, cybersecurity, multimedia arts, and digital forensics—carefully chosen to reflect the jobs of tomorrow.
SM’s workforce already includes more than 142,000 employees across the country, with strong demand in sales, engineering, IT, and other STEM areas. Yet the company is going beyond internal hiring. It plays a crucial role in national efforts to create more inclusive employment opportunities. Through its J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) initiative and in partnership with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), SM has hosted 244 job fairs in its malls from 2024 to May 2025. These events connected over 149,000 job seekers with nearly 8,100 employers—resulting in more than 20,000 immediate hires.
Meanwhile, subsidiaries like BDO Unibank are ramping up recruitment in high-demand tech roles. The bank recently launched a fast-track hiring process for positions in project management, cloud technology, and cybersecurity—fields that are increasingly critical in the digital age.
On the education front, SM Foundation celebrated a record-breaking milestone in 2024 by welcoming over 1,100 new college scholars. The foundation’s scholarship program—complete with tuition coverage, internships, and job placements—has helped more than 4,600 students graduate since its inception. Impressively, over 70% of alumni have pursued advanced degrees or additional certifications.
National University, acquired by SM in 2008, is also undergoing expansion with the goal of reaching 100,000 students by 2027. Programs in IT and engineering are being modernized to keep pace with digitalization trends.
From nurturing students to hiring tech-savvy professionals, SMIC is doing more than running a business—it’s building a talent pipeline for the future. In a country where the job landscape is quickly shifting, SM is ensuring the Filipino workforce isn’t left behind—it’s leading the charge.
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