It’s becoming common to see students move straight from classes to shifts, or squeeze schoolwork into the few quiet hours left in the day. For many, working while studying is no longer a temporary setup—it’s part of how they manage daily life.
More young Filipinos are choosing to enter the workforce earlier, not only to help cover expenses but also to build experience while still in school. The idea of waiting until graduation to start working feels less practical, especially as financial pressures and long-term goals start earlier.
As more students begin working earlier, the way they view education and employment has also started to shift. Instead of treating work as something that comes after graduation, many now see it as something that can run alongside their studies, taking on part-time roles, freelance projects, or even full-time jobs while completing their degrees and learning to manage both at once.
Alongside this change, the demands of the job market have continued to evolve, adding another layer of pressure for those already balancing multiple responsibilities.
A June 2025 briefing paper by the World Economic Forum noted that employers in the Philippines still face gaps in digital, technical, and managerial skills, making it harder for working students to rely on effort alone without also finding time to build more specialized competencies.
“Grit alone isn’t enough in a shifting economy,” said Jenny Chua, vice president of Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC). “As a learning institution, we understand how significant upskilling and flexible education would be for them to secure career and financial success.”
Effort, while still essential, now needs to be paired with access to relevant skills—something not all working students can easily fit into their routines.
In response, institutions have started to adjust to this reality. Through its “Step Up sa Pangarap” movement, launched in 2022, MMDC has been pushing for greater awareness of the challenges faced by working students while promoting flexible, fully online programs that allow them to study without leaving their jobs.
“Our model is designed specifically to help working students achieve job resilience and improve employability, providing them with the necessary tools and flexibility to enhance their skills without compromising their livelihoods,” Chua added.
For many young Filipinos, starting work early is no longer just about getting by. It’s a way to keep pace with a changing system—one where experience and skills are built alongside, not after, education.
