By Erika Mae P. Sinaking
THE Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry posted the highest average monthly wage in 2024, according to the results of the Occupational Wages Survey reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA said the study defined wages as “the sum of basic pay and regular cash allowances.”
ICT basic pay averaged P40,931 with allowances of P2,745, resulting in an average wage of P43,676.
The professional, scientific, and technical activities occupations reported a total wage of P36,096, comprising basic pay of P32,553 and an allowance of P3,543.
Wages for the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply occupations had a wage of P35,188, with a basic pay of P31,062 as well as the highest monthly allowance of P4,127.
Geoffrey M. Ducanes, Director of the Ateneo de Manila Center for Economic Research and Development, said in an e-mail that the ICT wages reflect “stronger demand for ICT workers and other professionals relative to their supply.”
He cited the “implicit belief” among employers that ICT workers and other professionals will contribute value exceeding their compensation. He added that strong wages represent a “signal that should attract more people to get the training to go into these fields.”
Meanwhile, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector recorded the lowest wage at P14,615, with basic pay of P14,191 and the lowest allowance of P424.
Mr. Ducanes said agricultural jobs typically require less formal training, while ICT and professional positions demand more specialized qualifications, which accounts for the differences in wages.
“This does not mean that what ICT workers and professionals do is more important or more valuable…than what agricultural workers or other working class people do, the market just prices it higher because of relative scarcity,” he said.
The average monthly full-time wage in the Philippines for 2024 was P21,544 for formal establishments with 10 or more workers, comprising P20,309 in basic pay and P1,235 in allowances.
Wages were highest in the National Capital Region at P29,310, Calabarzon P19,711, and the Central Visayas P19,084, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had the lowest average at P11,495.
The P21,544 national average wage, even with nominal and real increases over time, is insufficient to secure a comfortable life for a typical Filipino family, according to Christopher James R. Cabuay, associate professor at the De La Salle University School of Economics in Manila.
He said in a separate e-mail that these wages are “likely not going to lead to improvements in terms of comfort” and likely won’t be enough to retain skilled professionals, noting that the estimated monthly cost for a “decent basket” for a family of five — the lifestyle considered “middle income” — ranges from P61,000 to P99,000.
“Even if there are two income earners in the family, it will not be enough to help them reach the lower limit of our estimate,” he added.
Female workers nationwide earned an average of P22,236, exceeding the P21,009 pay of their male counterparts and resulting in a gender wage gap of 5.8% in favor of women.
The highest-paying jobs were aircraft pilots and air traffic safety electronics technicians, earning P137,999 and P131,536, respectively, compared with P13,506 for elementary occupations.
Despite high-paying roles in some sectors, Mr. Cabuay said that even skilled professionals can face “abysmally low” wages, as many firms are not engaged in high-skill activities and therefore cannot offer higher pay or fully utilize talent, leading professionals to emigrate to countries with significantly better pay and benefits.
“If our firms are not engaged in high-productivity activities, they will not be able to pay higher wages,” he said.