The most significant skills shortages in the offshore wind sector are found in the construction and maintenance phases, where the existing local workforce lacks the specific certifications and technical experience required for large-scale projects. According to the authors of the newly released report, while some workers from other infrastructure sectors can transition into early planning roles, there is a severe lack of qualified personnel for the actual building and long-term operation of wind farms.
The report notes that “construction and O&M phases have a significant capability gap” and emphasizes that “the Philippines’ electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineers and technicians are insufficient to fulfill the workforce needs to realise more than 1GW of offshore wind farms.”
This means that although the country has people working in general engineering and construction, they do not yet have the specialized training needed to handle the massive components and high-voltage equipment unique to offshore wind. To fix this, workers would need to earn international safety and technical certifications that are not currently offered in the local area. Without a major push into specialized education, the industry will have to rely on foreign experts for the most technical parts of the work.
Released in March 2026 by the Global Wind Energy Council, the report “Offshore Wind for Coastal Development: Socio-Economic Impact Study” explores the economic potential of wind energy in the Philippines. It was prepared by a joint team of experts from GWEC and the consultancy NIRAS, led by Ann Margret Francisco and Juan Miguel Consolacion.
