Labor department says it sees no jobs threat yet from AI

Despite the concerns relating to the possible takeover by artificial intelligence and robotics of some labor-intensive jobs, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it has not yet noticed any major shift in local industries. DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Dominique R. Tutay said latest monitoring has not found any new massive displacement in industries or a major shift towards the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. He said companies in the Philippines still prefer to keep their operations labor-intensive. The pronouncement was based on the reports submitted by companies to DOLE. Currently, most displacements are in the retail sector, which is mostly due to reorganization and downsizing, Tutay said. The labor official pointed out the use of advanced technology in local firms remains limited because it remains a costly investment proposition, and the country still lacks the necessary manpower for such operations.

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