HUMAN RESOURCES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (HRST)

IN THE PHILIPPINES

Department of Science and Technology

SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE
 CONTENTS Page
Foreword …………………………………………………………………… i
Executive Summary ……………………………………………………….. ii
Introduction ………………………………………………………………... 1
Objectives ………………………………………………………………….. 2
Significance of the Study …………………………………………………... 2
Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in the Philippines Data Sources and Method ………………………………………………….. 2
Scope and Limitation of the Study ………………………………………… 4
All rights reserved. Results
©2014 by the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI)
Manila, Philippines Philippine Workforce and Comparison of HRST (Professionals)
by Selected Countries ……………………………………………… 4

Citation: By S&T/Non-S&T Classification …………………………………. 7

Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) (2014). Human
By Sex ……………………………………………………………… 9
Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in the Philippines. Manila: DOST-SEI. By Age ……………………………………………………………… 10
By Marital Status ………………..………………………………….. 11
ISBN: 978-971-8600-54-2
By Overseas Work Status ………………………………………….. 12
By Region ………………………………………………………….. 13
Published by:
By S&T Occupations ………………………………………………. 14
Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute
1st and 2nd Levels, Science Heritage Building
By S&T Occupations and Sex ……………………………………… 16
DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue By S&T Occupations and Overseas Work Status ………………….. 17
Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 837-1925 (632) 837-1359, (632) 839-0241, Fax No. (632) 837-1924 By S&T Occupations and Region ………………………………….. 19
http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph / www.science-scholarships.ph
Summary and Conclusions …………………………………………………. 23
References …………………………………………………………………. 25
Request for permission to use any material from this publication or for further information should be
addressed to the copyright holders. Annexes
Annex A: Sampling Methods and Procedures ……………………. 26

Printed in Metro Manila, Philippines

Annex B: List of Specific Occupations Belonging to the Core Coverage
Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) …. 28
LIST OF TABLES Page LIST OF FIGURES Page
Table 1. Suggested List of HRST Coverage for Data Collection, Figure 1. Percentage HRST (Professionals) to the Total Workers
by Occupation ………………………………………………………. 3 by Selected Countries: 2010 …………………………………….. … 6
Table 2. Filipino Workers 15 Years Old and Over by Figure 2. Filipino Workers 15 Years and Over by S&T/Non-S&T
Major Occupational Group: 2000 & 2010 …………………………. 5 Classification: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ……………………………... 8
Table 3. Distribution of HRST by Age Group and Median Age: Figure 3. Distribution of Filipino Professionals by S&T/Non-S&T
1990, 2000 and 2010 ………………………………………………. 10 Classification: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ………………………………. 8
Table 4. Distribution of HRST by Marital Status: 1990, 2000, and 2010 … 11 Figure 4. Percentage Distribution of HRST by Sex: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ... 9
Table 5. Distribution of HRST by Region: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ………... 13 Figure 5. Percentage Distribution of HRST by Overseas Work Status:
Table 6. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ………………………………………………. 12
1990, 2000, and 2010 ………………………………………………. 15
Table 7. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group
and Sex: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ……………………………………. 16
Table 8. Distribution of HRST Overseas Workers by S&T
Occupational Group: 1990, 2000, and 2010 ………………………. 18
Table 9.1 Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group
and Region: 2010 …………………………………………………… 20

Table 9.2 Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group

and Region: 2000 …………………………………………………… 21

Table 9.3 Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group

and Region: 2010 …………………………………………………… 22
 FOREWORD
In line with the Institute’s mandate to develop a critical mass of Human
Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) to accelerate the country’s economic
development, the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (SEI-DOST) conducts projects and programs towards S&T human resource
development including empirical studies to provide relevant data that would serve as
basis for policy decisions. The data on HRST are crucial in understanding the demand
and supply of personnel in science and technology.
Using the available census data of the National Statistics Office (NSO), which is
now part of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), this study presents the estimates
on the number of S&T professionals in 1990, 2000, and 2010. It describes the S&T
professionals in terms of sex, age, marital status, overseas work status, including the
disaggregation and geographic spread of HRST. Likewise, the S&T occupational groups
were also described in terms of sex, overseas work status, and region.
This publication hopes to provide valuable knowledge and policy directions to
the scientific community, particularly to demographers, researchers, academicians and
policy-makers. The results can be used as bases for human resource development
programs in the S&T sector and as vital inputs for crafting strategies that would in-
crease and maintain the pool of S&T human resource in the country.
JOSETTE T. BIYO, Ph.D.
Director
Science Education Institute
i ii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Investing in human capital, particularly in S&T is central to economic
development. Making use of data on human resources in Science and Technology
(HRST), therefore, can give policy-making bodies a better understanding of the demand
for and the supply of personnel in science and technology. However, there is a dearth
of information on the number of highly skilled workers considered as having S&T
occupations. This study thus, intends to provide estimates of the workforce in S&T,
which are necessary in crafting policies related to the development of the S&T human
resources pool in the country.
Moreover, this is a benchmark study on establishing estimates of the stock of
HRST in the country using secondary data from Census conducted by the National
Statistics Office (NSO), which is now part of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In 2010, the Philippine workforce consists mainly of laborers and unskilled
workers that comprised a quarter (or around 8 million) of the 31 million workers. This
was followed by farmers, forestry workers, and fishermen with about 7 million or 21
percent. Only around 1.8 million Filipinos were professionals, which comprised 5.6
percent of the total employment.
The available data comparing countries by the number of HRST was found in
OECD iLibrary (OECD, 2011). However, HRST was defined more broadly compared
to the operational definition used in this study. It covered all professionals, namely:
physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals; life science and health
professionals; teaching professionals; and other professionals. Among the selected
countries, Philippines was fourth from the bottom with only 5.6 percent of the total
workers were HRST or professionals.
In general, this study aims to establish estimates and provide a picture of the
stock of Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in the Philippines.
Specifically, it attempts to: a) estimate the number of HRST in the country; b) describe
the HRST in terms of age, sex, marital status, and overseas work status; c) determine
the disaggregation and geographic spread of HRST by region; and d) describe the S&T
occupations by sex, overseas work status, and region.
 This study utilized the 1990, 2000, and 2010 census data of NSO, in which two
sets of questionnaires were used: the common household questionnaire that gathered
information from all households (100%) and the sample household questionnaire from a
sample of 10 percent or 20 percent of all households, or 100 percent depending on the
number of households in a municipality . The latter, which contains more variables
including occupation, was used in this study.
The occupations of household respondents were reclassified using the
International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) guided by the Canberra
Manual, an international standard list of occupations considered as S&T developed by
OECD, UNESCO, and ILO.
Results of the study indicated that the estimates on the number of human
resources in Science and Technology (HRST) using census data showed an increasing
trend from 1990 to 2010. The estimated numbers of HRST in decadal interval are: 362
thousand in 1990, 593 thousand in 2000, and 721 thousand in 2010.
Disaggregating the HRST in terms of sex revealed slight discrepancy in number
between males and females. In all three (3) survey periods, there were slightly more
male than female Filipino S&T professionals. Males accounted for more than half of the
total number of S&T professionals, ranging from 50.6 percent to 54 percent.
In terms of age, S&T professionals were relatively young with median age
ranging from 32 to 34. In other words, half of the total number of S&T professionals
aged lower than 32 or 34 years old. Moreover, distribution of HRST by age group
showed a concentration of proportions in age groups lower than 45 years.
On the proportion of HRST working overseas, the data confirmed previous
migration studies about the increase of outflow of S&T professionals. The proportion of
S&T overseas Filipino workers (S&T OFWs) ranged from 9.4 percent to 15.7 percent.
In terms of absolute figures, there was a huge increase of S&T OFWs from 40 thousand
in 1990 to 113 thousand in 2010.
iii
As to the marital status, a great majority of S&T professionals was married
ranging from 54.7 percent to 61.8 percent.
Regional spread of HRST depicted a concentration in the National Capital
Region (NCR) and nearby regions (i.e., Region IV-A or CALABARZON and Region
III or Central Luzon) in all three (3) survey periods. S&T professionals from
metropolitan and nearby regions comprised more than half of all HRST. A remarkable
increase in number was recorded in Region IV-A from 45 thousand in 1990 to around
127 thousand in 2010.
The most numbered S&T occupations were nursing and midwifery profession
followed by engineering and related professions, as well as health professions. On the
other hand, the least numbered S&T occupations were mathematicians, statisticians
and related professions, followed by physicists, chemists and related professions, as
well as life science professions.
While in general the number of HRST increased over the three (3) survey
periods, looking at the specific S&T occupational groups showed that not all of them
had an upward trend. Enormous increase was observed among computer professionals
as well as nursing and midwifery professionals but huge drop was recorded among
mathematicians, statisticians and related professionals and physicists, chemists, and
related professionals. Positive changes were consistent in all survey years only among
nursing and midwifery professionals, engineering and related professionals, and
architects and related professionals.
Disaggregating the S&T occupations by sex confirmed the common
knowledge that engineers and related professionals and architects and related
professionals are male-dominated professions while health professionals and nursing
and midwifery professionals are dominated by females.
The distribution of S&T OFWs by occupational groups confirmed that
nursing and midwifery professions and engineers and related professions have the
most number of professionals who were working abroad.
In terms of percentage of S&T professionals by occupational group in the
different regions in 2010, nursing and midwifery professionals had the highest
proportions of S&T professionals in almost all regions, followed by engineers and
related professionals.
iv
Introduction
With the current trend toward a knowledge-based economy, the role of human
resources in science and technology (HRST) is undeniably essential to the economic
growth of a country. In knowledge-based economy, knowledge resources such as
know-how and expertise are as critical as other economic resources. The Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD (2000) in its paper entitled:
“Mobilising Human Resources for Innovation” has stated it well and it is
worth-quoting:
“Human capital, especially in science and technology,
is of growing importance for innovation and technology
-led economic growth. In the new economy where
knowledge is the source of wealth creation, human
capital becomes as important as financial capital.”
The OECD (2000) enumerated several reasons on the importance of HRST.
First, investment in human capital is a key to innovation and growth. Second,
firm-level evidence indicates that the share of S&T workers in firms, irrespective of
firm size and sector, has an impact on the introduction of new products and processes.
Third, the movement of science and technology personnel between sectors, large and
small firms, and across national borders is an important conduit for technology transfer.
Fourth, mismatches in supply and demand for S&T personnel can have repercussions
on the broader economy; shortages for information technology (IT) workers, for
example, could result in wage pressure. Finally, human resources in science and
technology are important because they constitute a source of entrepreneurs.
Investing in human capital, particularly in S&T is thus central to economic
development. Making use of data on HRST, therefore, can give policy-making bodies
a better understanding of the demand for and the supply of personnel in science and
technology. However, there is a dearth of information on the number of highly skilled
workers considered as having S&T occupations. This study thus, intends to provide
robust estimates of the workforce in S&T, which are necessary in drafting policies
related to the creation and development of the S&T human resources pool in the
country.
Moreover, this is a benchmark study on establishing estimates of the stock of
Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in the country using secondary
data from Census conducted by the National Statistics Authority (NSO), which is now
part of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Objectives
In general, this study aims to establish estimates and provide a picture of the
stock of Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in the Philippines.
Specifically, it attempts to:
a. estimate the number of HRST in the country;
b. describe the HRST in terms of age, sex, marital status, and overseas work
status;
c. determine the disaggregation and geographic spread of HRST by region;
and
d. describe the S&T occupations by sex, overseas work status, and region
Significance of the Study
Together with the data from the Migration studies, this study intends to describe
the status and supply of HRST in the country based on the most recent data. Aside from
benchmarking the estimate of the number of S&T professionals, the results of this study
will also guide the policymakers on crafting legislations concerning improvement and
maintaining human capital in S&T necessary in knowledge creation and technological
innovation.
Data Sources and Method
This study utilized the 1990, 2000, and 2010 census data of NSO, in which two
sets of questionnaires were used: the common household questionnaire that gathered
information from all households (100%) and the sample household questionnaire from a
sample of 10 percent or 20 percent of all households, or 100 percent depending on the
number of households in a municipality (See A nnex A for the Sampling Method and
Procedures Used by NSO). The latter, which contains more variables including
occupation, was used in this study.

1 2
 The occupations of household respondents were reclassified using the In terms of the extent of coverage, the groupings can be core, extended, or
International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) guided by the Canberra complete depending on the countries’ specific needs. In this particular study, HRST
Manual, an international standard list of occupations considered as S&T developed by only includes Physical, Mathematical and Engineering Science Professionals (ISCO-88
OECD, UNESCO, and ILO. According to the manual’s recommendation, coverage of 21) and Life Science and Health Professionals (ISCO-88 22) groups of occupations as
core coverage.
HRST has three (3) options; it can be in terms of education, occupation, or combined.
Due to data limitation, this study followed the coverage in terms of occupation, using Under these occupational groups, the following are considered as core S&T
the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) as stated in the Can- occupations: Physicists, Chemists and Related Professionals; Mathematicians,
berra Manual (OECD, 1995). Table 2 presents the suggested list of coverage for data Statisticians and Related Professionals; Computing Professionals; Engineers and
collection, by occupation. Related Professionals; Life Science Professionals; Health Professionals; and Nursing
and Midwifery Professionals. (For the complete list of S&T occupations, refer to A n-
nex B)
Table 1. Suggested List of HRST Coverage for Data Collection, by Occupation Using descriptive method of analysis, the data were processed, reclassified, and
. analyzed using the Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) Statistics 18, better known
ISCO-88 as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
ISCO-88 groups of occupations Coverage
Code
Scope and Limitation of the Study
Production and Operations Department
122 Extended
Managers The results in this study only cover three survey periods, i.e. 1990, 2000, and
123 Other Department Managers Extended 2010, as NSO conducted the survey only every 10 years. Since the data were taken
from a survey and not from a total enumeration, it must be emphasized that the results
131 General Managers Extended
are not exact; they are estimates only and, as such, are subject to sampling errors.
21
Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering
Core
Sampling errors can be calculated based on the sampling design used by the NSO.
Science Professionals
Results
22 Life Science and Health Professionals Core
Philippine Workforce and Comparison of HRST (Professionals) by Selected
23 Teaching Professionals Extended Countries
24 Other Professionals Extended
In 2010, the Philippine workforce consists significantly of laborers and
Physical and Engineering Science unskilled workers that comprised a quarter (or around 8 million) of the 31 million
31 Extended
Associate Professionals
workers. This was followed by farmers, forestry workers, and fishermen with about
Life Science and Health Associate 7 million or 21 percent. Only around 1.8 million Filipinos were professionals, which
32 Extended
Professionals comprised 5.6 percent of the total employment (Table 1).
33 Teaching Associate Professionals Extended
From 2000 to 2010, a decrease in number was observed among farmers, forest-
33 Teaching Associate Professionals Complete ry workers, and fishermen, from 7.7 million in 2000 to 6.7 million in 2010. In fact, this
34 Other Associate Professionals Complete agricultural group had the highest proportion in 2000 (34.7%). On the other hand, a
huge increase was recorded among officials of government and special interest
Source: Canberra Manual (OECD,1995), p. 25
organizations, corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors, and supervisors,
from around 517 thousand in 2000 to 2.7 million in 2010. The number of professionals
increased by 19 percent, from 1.5 million in 2000 to 1.8 million in 2010.

3 4
 The available data comparing countries by the number of HRST is found in
OECD iLibrary (OECD, 2011). However, HRST is defined more broadly compared to
the operational definition used in this study. It covered all professionals, namely:
physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals; life science and health
professionals; teaching professionals; and other professionals. Figure 1 displays Belgium 23.03
Australia 21.39
percentages of HRST (professionals) to the total workers by selected countries in 2010. Netherlands 20.28

Among the selected countries, the Philippines ranks fourth from the bottom with only Estonia
Iceland
20.26
20.15
5.6 percent of the total workers were HRST or professionals. Ireland 20.06
Sweden 19.76
Finland 19.00
Russian Federation (2008) 18.49
Table 2. Filipino Workers 15 Years Old and Over by Major Switzerland 18.20
New Zealand 17.80
Occupational Group: 2000 & 2010 Denmark 17.24
United States 17.09
2000 2010 Poland 16.72
Major Occupational Group Slovenia 16.09
Number Percent Number Percent Greece 15.43
Germany 15.32
Officials of Government and Special United Kingdom 15.27
Hungary
Interest Organizations, Corporate Execu- 15.09
516,621 2.34 2,746,594 8.76 Spain 14.42
tives, Managers, Managing Proprietors, France 14.31
and Supervisors Norway 14.05
Slovak Republic 11.12
Professionals 1,485,927 6.72 1,766,647 5.63 Austria 11.06
Japan 10.95
Technicians and Associate Professionals 679,766 3.07 862,335 2.75 Czech Republic 10.57
Portugal 10.18
Italy 10.11
Clerks 940,634 4.25 1,709,737 5.45 Turkey 7.05
Brazil (2007) 6.68
Services Workers and Shop and Market Philippines 5.63
1,444,507 6.53 2,705,814 8.63
Sales Workers South Africa (2008) 5.48
India (2008) 4.31
Farmers, Forestry Workers and Fisher-
7,666,503 34.67 6,737,452 21.48 Indonesia (2008) 3.82
men 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00
Percentage of Total Employment
Trade and Related Workers 2,351,666 10.63 2,788,272 8.89 Source: OECD iLibrary

Plant and Machine Operators and As-

1,946,638 8.80 3,357,888 10.71
semblers Figure 1. Percentage of HRST (Professionals) to the Total Workers
Laborers and Unskilled Workers 4,168,424 18.85 7,974,257 25.44 by Selected Countries: 2010

Armed Forces 158,460 0.72 7,784 0.02

Other Occupation Not Elsewhere Classi-
756,427 3.42 57,508 0.18
fied
Not Reported - - 646,669 2.06

Total 22,115,573 100.00 31,360,957 100.00

Source of Basic Data: Philippine Statistics Authority, Census of Population and Housing (Survey Data)

5 6
By S&T/Non-S&T Classification
In 2010, of the 31 million Filipino workers aged 15 years old and over, only 2.3
percent or 721 thousand Filipinos were S&T professionals. This number is almost a
hundred percent higher than that in 1990 with only around 362 thousand (1.7%). In
2000, the proportion of S&T professionals was also higher (2.8% or 593 thousand) as
compared to that of 1990 data. The three survey period data revealed an increasing trend
in the number S&T professionals but the proportion of this occupational group to the
total working population remained small, ranging from 1.7% to 2.8% only (Figure 2).

However, looking at the proportion of HRST among Filipino professionals

revealed an increasing trend from 33.3 percent in 1990 to 39.9 percent in 2000, then
further grew to 40.8 percent in 2010 (Figure 3). Of the 1.8 million professionals in 2010,
721 thousand were S&T professionals.

Figure 2. Filipino Workers 15 Years Old and Over

by S&T/Non-S&T Classification: 1990, 2000, and 2010

Figure 3. Distribution of Filipino Professionals

by S&T/Non-S&T Classification: 1990, 2000, and 2010

7 8
By Sex
When the data was disaggregated by sex, there were slightly more male than
female Filipino S&T professionals in all three (3) survey periods (Figure 4). In 2010,
there were about 366 thousand males (or 50.7%) S&T professionals compared to
females with 355 thousand (or 49.3%). On the other hand, males made up 50.6 percent
of the 362 thousand S&T professionals in 1990, while females, 49.4 percent. Sex
discrepancy was a little higher in 2000 with 54.1 percent (or 321 thousand) for males
and 46.0 percent (or 273 thousand) for females. Notably, there was almost a hundred
percent increase in both males and females from 1990 to 2010 in terms of number
(99.7% and 98.4%, respectively).
By Age
Filipino S&T professionals are young in general. In 2010, the median age of
S&T workers was 33 years old, which is only a year older than the median age in 2000
and 2 years older than that in 1990 (Table 3). In other words, half of the S&T
professionals were younger than 33 years old.
Of the workforce population of S&T professionals in 2010, 76.6 percent were
under 45 years of age or around 552 thousand. Filipino S&T professionals aged 25 to 34
years comprised 34.1 percent of the workforce population with S&T occupations. Those
aged 45 to 54 years accounted for 16.4 percent, and those aged 65 and above, 1.0
percent. By comparison in 1990, Filipino S&T professionals under 45 years of age
accounted for 84.0 percent of the S&T workforce population or 304 thousand. Those
aged 25 to 34 years comprised 45.8 percent while those aged 45 to 54 years accounted
for 9.8 percent. Remarkably, from 1990 to 2010 there was a huge increase of S&T
professionals aged 45 to 54 and 65 & above years, 233 percent and 143 percent increase,
respectively.

Table 3. Distribution of HRST by Age Group and Median Age: 1990, 2000, and 2010

Age Group 1990 2000 2010

(years) Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
24 & below 58,147 16.06 79,233 13.35 119,888 16.63
25-34 166,045 45.85 238,692 40.23 245,990 34.12
35-44 79,985 22.09 157,783 26.59 186,108 25.81
45-54 35,617 9.83 77,158 13.00 118,615 16.45
55-64 17,640 4.87 29,001 4.89 42,873 5.95
65 & above 4,729 1.30 11,513 1.94 7,496 1.04
Figure 4. Percentage Distribution of HRST by Sex: 1990, 2000, and 2010 TOTAL 362,163 100.00 593,380 100.00 720,970 100.00
Median Age 32 33 34

9 10
By Marital Status
In terms of marital status, a majority of S&T professionals were married for all
survey periods. On the other hand, the proportion of single S&T professionals increased
from 36.2 percent in 1990 to 39.4 percent in 2010 (Table 4).
Table 4. Distribution of HRST by Marital Status: 1990, 2000, and 2010
By Overseas Work Status
Of the 721 thousand S&T professionals in 2010, 113 thousand or 15.7% were
overseas workers. This proportion was higher than that of 1990 and 2000, with 11
percent (or around 40 thousand) and 9.4 percent (or 56 thousand), respectively.
Apparently, there was a huge increase of almost 200 percent from 1990 to 2010 with
only around 40 thousand S&T overseas workers in the earlier period (Figure 5).

1990 2000 2010

Marital Status
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Single 131,109 36.20 195,049 32.87 283,709 39.35
Married 223,035 61.59 366,514 61.77 394,429 54.71
Widowed 4,996 1.38 10,452 1.76 11,228 1.56
Divorced-
2,429 0.67 6,778 1.14 12,911 1.79
Separated
Others 483 0.13 11,821 1.99 18,082 2.51
Unknown 111 0.03 2,766 0.47 611 0.08
TOTAL 362,163 100.00 593,380 100.00 720,970 100.00

Figure 5. Percentage Distribution of HRST by Overseas Work Status :

1990, 2000, and 2010

11 12
By Region By S&T Occupations
In terms of regional spread of S&T professionals in 2010, significant In 2010, the most numbered S&T occupation was nursing and midwifery
proportions were coming from metropolitan and nearby areas: 211 thousand (29.2%) (281 thousand or 39.0%), which was followed by engineering and related professions
S&T professionals were from the National Capital Region; 127 thousand (17.7%) from (230 thousand or 31.9%). Ranked third were health professions with 112 thousand or
Region 1V-A; and 89 thousand (12.4%) from Region III (Table 5). The least number 15.5%. On the other hand, mathematicians, statisticians, and related professions were
was observed in ARMM with only around 5 thousand (0.7%). The regional spread of the least numbered S&T occupation with only about 6 hundred or 0.08% (Table 6).
S&T professionals was almost the same in all survey periods in terms of proportion. A
remarkable increase of 185.5 percent from 45 thousand in 1990 to 127 thousand in From 1990 to 2010, almost a tripled increase was recorded among computer
2010 was recorded in Region IV-A (CALABARZON). professionals from 16 thousand in 1990 to almost 61 thousand in 2010. Also, almost a
doubled increase was observed among nursing and midwifery professionals from 97
thousand in 1990 to 281 thousand in 2010. However, huge drop was recorded among
mathematicians, statisticians and related professionals, from 7 thousand in 1990 to only
Table 5. Distribution of HRST by Region: 1990, 2000, and 2010 around 6 hundred in 2010. Other professions with negative percentage change were
1990 2000 2010 physicists, chemists and related professionals (-72.6%) and life science professionals
Region
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent (-16.0%).
Philippines 362,163 100.00 593,380 100.00 720,970 100.00
From 2000 to 2010, more S&T occupations had apparent decreases, namely,
NCR 127,265 35.14 181,354 30.56 210,712 29.23
mathematicians, statisticians and related professionals (-88.4%), physicists, chemists
CAR 8,438 2.33 12,026 2.03 15,567 2.16
and related professionals (-83.7%), life science professionals (-37.8%), computer
Region I 16,387 4.52 26,820 4.52 34,972 4.85
professionals (-10.8%), and health professionals (-8.3%). Positive changes were
Region II 9,020 2.49 14,229 2.40 17,132 2.38
consistent in all survey years among nursing and midwifery professionals, engineering
Region III 35,509 9.80 67,694 11.41 89,188 12.37
and related professionals, and architects and related professionals.
Region IV-A 44,657 12.33 93,625 15.78 127,496 17.68
Region IV-B 5,901 1.63 8,510 1.43 7,758 1.08
Region V 13,166 3.64 19,206 3.24 19,816 2.75
Region VI 22,407 6.19 36,344 6.12 44,120 6.12
Region VII 22,093 6.10 39,930 6.73 46,914 6.51
Region VIII 9,245 2.55 14,736 2.48 14,186 1.97
Region IX 7,812 2.16 12,673 2.14 17,657 2.45
Region X 8,822 2.44 14,831 2.50 24,460 3.39
Region XI 14,726 4.07 25,416 4.28 24,118 3.35
Region XII 6,015 1.66 13,076 2.20 13,833 1.92
CARAGA 6,594 1.82 8,991 1.52 8,067 1.12
ARMM 4,106 1.13 3,919 0.66 4,974 0.67

13 14
 By S&T Occupations and Sex
Table 6. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group: 1990, 2000, and 2010 Disaggregating the S&T occupations by sex, the data confirmed the common
knowledge that engineers and related professionals and architects and related
1990 2000 2010 professionals are male-dominated professions while health professionals and nursing
S&T Occupational Group and midwifery professionals are dominated by females. In all survey periods, the
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent figures revealed that differences among computer professionals by sex were small
(Table 7).
Nursing and midwifery
97,376 26.89 136,502 23.00 280,831 38.95
professionals The 1990-2010 change showed tremendous increase among male nursing and
Engineers and related midwifery professionals (941.1%). The data also revealed more than 200 percent
118,345 32.68 205,775 34.68 229,758 31.87 increase for both male (291.0%) and female (274.0%) computer professionals.
professionals
Health professionals Reduction in the number of mathematicians, statisticians and related professionals was
86,343 23.84 121,698 20.51 111,758 15.50 still evident both among males (-91.3%) and females (-90.6%).
(except nursing)

Computer professionals 15,787 4.36 67,863 11.44 60,529 8.40

Table 7. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group and Sex:
Architects and related 1990, 2000, and 2010
12,568 3.47 19,369 3.26 22,486 3.12
professionals
S&T Occupational 1990 2000 2010
Life science professionals 14,518 4.01 19,576 3.30 12,183 1.69
Group Male Female Male Female Male Female
Physicists, chemists and Physicists, chemists and 4,764 5,386 8,353 8,664 1,028 1,752
10,150 2.80 17,017 2.87 2,780 0.39
related professionals related professionals (46.96) (53.06) (49.09) (50.91) (36.98) (63.02)

Mathematicians, statisti- Mathematicians, statisti-

cians and related profes- 7,076 1.95 5,580 0.94 645 0.08 3,024 4,052 2,661 2,919 263 382
cians and related profes-
(42.74) (57.26) (47.69) (52.31) (40.78) (59.22)
sionals sionals

TOTAL 362,163 100.00 593,380 100.00 720,970 100.00 8,737 7,050 36,875 30,988 34,162 26,367
Computer professionals
(55.34) (44.66) (54.34) (45.66) (56.44) (43.56)
Architects and related 10,618 1,950 15,312 4,057 18,492 3,994
professionals (84.48) (15.52) (79.05) (20.95) (82.24) (17.76)

Engineers and related 107,269 11,076 174,542 31,233 202,361 27,397

professionals (90.64) (9.36) (84.8) (15.2) (88.08) (11.92)
10,112 4,406 13,235 6,341 7,901 4,282
Life science professionals
(69.65) (30.35) (67.6) (32.4) (64.85) (35.15)
Health professionals 32,223 54,120 48,389 73,309 35,440 76,318
(except nursing) (37.32) (62.68) (39.8) (60.2) (31.71) (68.29)

Nursing and midwifery 6,341 91,035 21,356 115,146 66,018 214,813

professionals (6.51) (93.49) (15.6) (84.4) (23.51) (76.49)
183,088 179,075 320,723 272,657 365,665 355,305
TOTAL
(50.55) (49.45) (54.10) (45.90) (52.72) (49.28)
( ) = percent in row

15 16
By S&T Occupations and Overseas Work Status
The distribution of S&T OFWs by specific occupations confirmed the figures
from the annual estimates of S&T migrant workers (SEI-DOST, 2011), particularly
Table 8. Distribution of HRST Overseas Workers by S&T Occupational Group:
nursing and midwifery professionals and engineers and related professionals as the most
1990, 2000, and 2010
numbered professions among S&T OFWs. In 1990, nursing and midwifery professionals
comprised 43 percent or around 40 thousand S&T OFWs while engineers and related 1990 2000 2010
professionals made up 37 percent of the S&T OFWs. In 2000, there were more S&T Occupational Group
engineers and related professionals than nursing and midwifery professionals who were Number Number of Number
Percent Percent Percent
of OFWs OFWs of OFWs
working abroad (22 thousand or 39.4% and 20 thousand or 35.6%, respectively). In the
Nursing and midwifery
most recent survey (2010), the proportions of engineers and related professionals and 16,995 42.82 19,940 35.59 48,459 42.92
professionals
nursing and midwifery professionals were almost the same (Table 8). Engineers and related
14,686 37.00 22,082 39.41 47,801 42.34
From 1990 to 2010, an increase of S&T OFWs was notable among engineers professionals
and related professionals (225.5%) and architects and related professionals (255.9%). A Health professionals
4,113 10.36 5,566 9.93 8,389 7.43
(except nursing)
decrease in S&T OFWs was recorded among mathematicians, statisticians and related
professionals (-87.7%). Computer professionals 1,786 4.50 5,304 9.47 3,924 3.48
Architects and related
1,065 2.68 1,540 2.75 3,790 3.36
professionals
Life science professionals 454 1.14 542 0.97 298 0.26
Physicists, chemists and
449 1.13 943 1.68 212 0.19
related professionals
Mathematicians, statisti-
cians and related profes- 146 0.37 117 0.21 18 0.02
sionals
TOTAL 39,694 100.00 56,034 100.00 112,891 100.00

17 18
By S&T Occupations and Region
The distribution of HRST by S&T occupation and region showed high
Table 9.1. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group and Region: 2010
concentration in National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring regions. In all survey
years, NCR had the highest proportion of S&T professionals by occupation, followed by
Region IV-A and Region III. On the other hand, ARMM had the least proportion of Region S&T Occupational Group Total
S&T workers in all other specific occupations (Tables 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

NCR 1,041 251 27,095 9,197 67,199 623 37,797 67,509 210,712
In 2010, in terms of percentage of S&T professionals by occupation in the
different regions, nursing and midwifery professionals had the highest proportions in CAR 5 19 525 348 4,774 697 2,306 6,893 15,567
almost all regions, followed by engineers and related professionals. Conversely, I 36 16 1,371 832 9,139 842 5,841 16,895 34,972
mathematicians, statisticians, and related professionals had the least proportions of S&T II 29 27 926 247 4,603 866 2,634 7,800 17,132
workers in all regions (Table 9.1). III 265 53 4,963 3,298 31,039 966 12,821 35,783 89,188

IV-A 696 114 10,184 3,970 50,682 1,163 16,789 43,898 127,496

IV-B 25 20 479 162 2,139 457 1,311 3,165 7,758

V 47 0 1,334 675 5,633 600 2,730 8,797 19,816
VI 239 40 1,601 1,060 10,032 1,151 7,156 22,841 44,120
VII 133 5 5,805 1,218 15,328 995 7,368 16,062 46,914
VIII 14 20 1,461 326 4,256 697 2,018 5,394 14,186
IX 49 15 845 185 4,014 631 1,984 9,934 17,657
X 80 0 1,246 249 7,219 740 3,520 11,406 24,460
XI 65 50 1,107 525 6,952 676 3,856 10,887 24,118
XII 41 5 610 79 3,372 501 2,074 7,151 13,833

CARAGA 15 10 827 96 2,129 503 1,195 3,292 8,067

ARMM 0 0 150 19 1,248 75 358 3,124 4,974

Total 2,780 645 60,529 22,486 229,758 12,183 111,758 280,831 720,970

Legend:
1 - Physicists, Chemists, and Related Professionals.
2 - Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Related Professionals
3 - Computer Professionals
4 - Architects and Related Professionals
5 - Engineers and Related Professionals
6 - Life Science Professionals
7 - Health Professionals (Except Nursing)
8 - Nursing and Midwifery Professionals

19 20
 Table 9.2. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group and Region: 2000 Table 9.3. Distribution of HRST by S&T Occupational Group and Region: 1990

Region S&T Occupational Group Total Region S&T Occupational Group Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

NCR 5,306 1,977 29,199 7,010 63,056 2,645 42,375 29,786 181,354 NCR 4,293 2,392 9,793 6,319 41,464 892 36,299 25,813 127,265

CAR 173 57 756 242 4,110 706 2,616 3,366 12,026 CAR 191 117 161 131 2,713 640 1,611 2,874 8,438
I 443 163 1,649 1,125 7,682 920 5,559 9,279 26,820 I 138 326 296 420 4,368 1,173 3,332 6,334 16,387
II 124 96 899 306 4,258 1,363 3,130 4,053 14,229 II 114 261 104 130 2,704 1,140 1,798 2,769 9,020
III 1,947 496 8,178 2,661 24,363 1,540 12,881 15,628 67,694 III 612 480 1,315 1,150 12,133 1,499 8,641 9,679 35,509

IV-A 4,045 881 12,013 3,249 38,002 2,539 16,213 16,683 93,625 IV-A 1,679 776 2,181 1,544 14,933 1,893 9,279 12,372 44,657

IV-B 161 144 755 193 2,567 704 1,809 2,177 8,510 IV-B 29 114 53 91 1,942 729 1,243 1,700 5,901
V 402 231 1,594 578 5,980 788 3,712 5,921 19,206 V 178 380 292 360 4,188 500 2,740 4,528 13,166
VI 774 252 2,527 935 9,539 1,521 7,209 13,587 36,344 VI 690 422 371 374 6,783 1,281 4,335 8,151 22,407
VII 1,212 183 4,041 969 14,714 981 7,789 10,041 39,930 VII 727 283 419 731 8,324 747 4,958 5,904 22,093
VIII 316 260 991 301 4,477 1,043 3,301 4,047 14,736 VIII 296 298 86 212 3,248 596 1,880 2,629 9,245
IX 516 135 765 326 4,172 711 1,999 4,049 12,673 IX 237 181 126 150 2,388 516 1,651 2,563 7,812
X 692 220 1,009 268 5,206 834 2,778 3,824 14,831 X 314 188 135 252 2,539 704 2,037 2,653 8,822
XI 527 250 1,714 733 8,176 1,855 5,669 6,492 25,416 XI 265 365 276 373 4,688 892 3,459 4,408 14,726
XII 192 122 804 259 4,995 535 2,615 3,554 13,076 XII 48 72 49 39 2,081 375 1,231 2,120 6,015

CARAGA 166 113 810 119 3,239 611 1,589 2,344 8,991 CARAGA 252 289 62 148 2,262 666 1,377 1,538 6,594

ARMM 21 - 159 95 1,239 280 454 1,671 3,919 ARMM 87 132 68 144 1,587 275 472 1,341 4,106

Total 17,017 5,580 67,863 19,369 205,775 19,576 121,698 136,502 593,380 Total 10,150 7,076 15,787 12,568 118,345 14,518 86,343 97,376 362,163

Legend: Legend:
1 - Physicists, Chemists, and Related Professionals. 1 - Physicists, Chemists, and Related Professionals.
2 - Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Related Professionals 2 - Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Related Professionals
3 - Computer Professionals 3 - Computer Professionals
4 - Architects and Related Professionals 4 - Architects and Related Professionals
5 - Engineers and Related Professionals 5 - Engineers and Related Professionals
6 - Life Science Professionals 6 - Life Science Professionals
7 - Health Professionals (Except Nursing) 7 - Health Professionals (Except Nursing)
8 - Nursing and Midwifery Professionals 8 - Nursing and Midwifery Professionals

21 22
Summary and Conclusions
The estimates on the number of human resources in Science and Technology
(HRST) using census data showed an increasing trend from 1990 to 2010. The
estimated numbers of HRST in ten-year interval are: 362 thousand in 1990, 593
thousand in 2000, and 721 thousand in 2010.
Disaggregating the HRST in terms of sex revealed slight discrepancy in number
between males and females. In all three survey periods, there were slightly more male
than female Filipino S&T professionals. Males accounted more than half of the total
number of S&T professionals, ranging from 50.6 percent to 54 percent.
In terms of age, S&T professionals were relatively young with median age
ranging from 32 to 34. In other words, half of the total number of S&T professionals
aged lower than 32 or 34 years old. Moreover, distribution of HRST by age group
showed a concentration of proportions in age groups lower than 45 years.
On the proportion of HRST working overseas, the data confirmed previous
migration studies about the increase of outflow of S&T professionals. The proportion
of S&T overseas Filipino workers (S&T OFWs) ranged from 9.4 percent to 15.7
percent. In terms of absolute figures, there was a huge increase of S&T OFWs from 40
thousand in 1990 to 113 thousand in 2010.
As to the marital status, majority of S&T professionals were married ranging
from 54.7 percent to 61.8 percent.
Regional spread of HRST depicted a concentration in the National Capital
Region (NCR) and nearby regions (i.e., Region IV-A or CALABARZON and Region
III or Central Luzon) in all three survey periods. S&T professionals from metropolitan
and nearby regions comprised more than half of all HRST. A remarkable increase in
number was recorded in Region IV-A from 45 thousand in 1990 to around 127 thousand
in 2010.
23
The S&T occupations with the most number of professionals were nursing and
midwifery profession followed by engineering and related professions, as well as health
professions. On the other hand, the S&T professionals with the least number were
mathematicians, statisticians and those in related professions, followed by physicists,
chemists and related professions, as well as those in life science professions.
While in general the number of HRST increased over the three (3) survey
periods, looking at the specific S&T occupational groups showed that not all of them
had an upward trend. Enormous increases were observed among computer professionals
as well as nursing and midwifery professionals but huge drop was recorded among
mathematicians, statisticians and related professionals and physicists, chemists, and
related professionals. Positive changes were consistent in all survey years only among
nursing and midwifery professionals, engineering and related professionals, and archi-
tects and related professionals.
Disaggregating the S&T occupations by sex confirmed the common knowledge
that engineers and related professionals and architects and related professionals are
male-dominated professions while health professionals and nursing and midwifery
professionals are dominated by females.
The distribution of S&T OFWs by occupational groups confirmed that nursing
and midwifery professionals and engineers and related professionals as the most num-
bered professions who were working abroad.
In terms of percentage of S&T professionals by occupational group in the
different regions in 2010, nursing and midwifery professionals had the highest propor-
tions of S&T professionals in almost all regions, followed by engineers and related pro-
fessionals.
24
 REFERENCES
Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI)
(2011). International Migration of Science and Technology (S&T) Manpower –
OFWs. Manila: DOST-SEI.
International Labor Organization (2004). International Standard Classification of
Occupations. Retrieved from http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/
isco88/
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2011). OECD
Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2011. Retrieved from http://
www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/sti_scoreboard-2011-en/02/03/index.html?
contentType=/ns/Chapter,/ns/StatisticalPublication&itemId=/content/chapter/
sti_scoreboard-2011-14-en&containerItemId=/content/
serial/20725345&accessItemIds=&mimeType=text/html
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2000).
Mobilising Human Resources for Innovation. Retrieved from
http://www.cgiar-ilac.org/files/OECD_HR_Innovation.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (1995). The
Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities: Manual on the Measure-
ment of Human Resources Devoted to S&T “Canberra Manual”. Retrieved from
http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tubitak_content_files/BTYPD/kilavuzlar/Canberra.pdf
Philippine Statistics Authority (n.d.). NSO Data A rchive. Retrieved from http://
web0.psa.gov.ph/nsoda/index.php/home
25
Annex A: Sampling Method and Procedures
2010 Census on Population and Housing (CPH)
In the 2010 CPH, there are basically two types of questionnaires used for the
enumeration of household members. These are CPH Form 2 or the Common Household
Questionnaire and CPH Form 3 or the Sample Household Questionnaire. CPH Form 3
contains more questions than CPH Form 2.
The 2010 CPH was carried out through a combination of complete enumeration
and sampling. For this census, systematic cluster sampling was adopted. This sampling
method is designed in such a way that efficient and accurate estimates will be obtained
at the city/municipality level.
The sampling rate or the proportion of households to be selected as samples
depends on the size of the city/municipality where the Enumeration Area (EA) is
located. For the cities/municipalities with estimated number of households of 500 and
below, 100 percent sampling rate was used. While for those cities/municipalities with
estimated number of households of 501 and above, a sampling rate of 20 percent was
implemented.
In this sampling scheme, each city/municipality was treated as a domain. For
city/municipality with 100 percent sampling rate, all households in all the EAs within
this city/municipality were selected as samples. For those with a 20 percent sampling
rate, systematic cluster sampling was adopted. That is, sample selection of one in five
clusters with the first cluster selected at random. Thus in effect, the EAs belonging to
the city/municipality with 20 percent sampling rate are divided into clusters of size 5.
Random start is pre-determined for each EA.
If the sampling rate applied to a city/municipality is 100 percent, it means that
all households in that municipality were administered with CPH Form 3. If it is 20
percent, it means that 20 percent of all households used CPH Form 3 while 80 percent
used CPH Form 2.
26
 The random start used by EA is a number from 1 to 5 which was used to select Annex B. List of Specific Occupations Belonging to the Core Coverage
the cluster where the first sample households in an EA, and subsequently the other sam- Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST)
ple households, were included.
21 PHYSICAL, MATHEMATICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS
Clusters are formed by grouping together households that have been assigned
211 PHYSICISTS, CHEMISTS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
consecutive serial numbers as they were listed in the Listing Booklet. For a 20 percent
sampling rate, clusters were formed by grouping together five households. 2111 Physicists and Astronomers
2112 Meteorologists
1990 and 2000 Census on Population and Housing (CPH)
2113 Chemists
In the Census 1990 and 2000, CPH Form 2 (Common Household Questionnaire) 2114 Geologists and Geophysicists
and the CPH Form 3 (Sample Household Questionnaire) are also used. There are 212 MATHEMATICIANS, STATISTICIANS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
procedures for selecting those households to whom CPH Form 3 will be administered. 2121 Mathematicians and Related Professionals
All enumerators are required to strictly follow these procedures.
2122 Statisticians
213 COMPUTING PROFESSIONALS
The sampling rate, or the proportion of households to be selected as samples
within each EA, varies from one EA to another. It can be either 100%, 20% or 10% 2131 Computer Systems Designers and Analysts
depending on the size of the municipality where the EA is located. If the sampling rate 2132 Computer Programmers
applied to an EA is 100%, it means that all households in that EA will use CPH Form 3. 2139 Computing Professionals not elsewhere classified
IF it is 20% or 10%, it means that one-fifth or one-tenth, respectively, of all households 214 ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
will use CPH Form 3 while the rest will use CPH Form 2. The different sampling rates 2141 Architects, Town and Traffic Planners
are given below:
2142 Civil Engineers
2143 Electrical Engineers
No. of Households in the Municipality Sampling Rate
1 - 500 100% 2144 Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers
501 - 1500 20% 2145 Mechanical Engineers
1501 and above 10% 2146 Chemical Engineers
2147 Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Related Professionals
The sampling rate for each municipality was identified before the start of the 2148 Cartographers and Surveyors
census enumeration based on the estimated number of households.
2149 Architects, Engineers and Related Professionals not elsewhere classified
The scheme for the selection of sample households is known as systematic
sampling with clusters as the sampling units. Under this scheme, the households in an
EA are grouped in clusters of size 5. Clusters are formed by grouping together housholds
that have been assigned consecutive serial numbers as they are listed in the Listing Page.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

27 28
List of Specific Occupations Belonging to the Core Coverage
Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) (Cont.)

22 LIFE SCIENCE AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

221 LIFE SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS ADVISERS
2211 Biologists, Botanists, Zoologists and Related Professionals
Dr. Josette T. Biyo
2212 Pharmacologists, Pathologists and Related Professionals
2213 Agronomists and Related Professionals Ms. Ruby R. Cristobal
222 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (except nursing)
2221 Medical Doctors
2222 Dentists
EDITORS
2223 Veterinarians
2224 Pharmacists Ms. Ruby R. Cristobal
2229 Health professionals (except nursing) not elsewhere classified Ms. Ruby D. Laña
223 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY PROFESSIONALS Ms. Imelda S. Sario
2230 Nursing and Midwifery professionals

Source: International Labor Organization ISCO-88 TECHNICAL WRITER

Mr. Randolf S. Sasota

COVER DESIGN ARTIST

Mr. Gaius Karl G. Noble

PROOF READER
Ms. Casylyn M. Bilale

29 30