Philippines' Call Center Crown at Risk: A Literacy Crisis Looms

The Philippines is the world's call center capital. Its industry employs over a million people and earns billions in revenue by serving global customers. This success relies on a deep pool of fluent English speakers. But now, a growing domestic threat is emerging: declining literacy rates in schools. Experts warn the country's education system is producing graduates with weak reading and comprehension skills. This could erode the skilled workforce that the outsourcing sector depends on. While artificial intelligence poses a known future challenge, the literacy issue is a more immediate problem. It strikes at the core of the nation's competitive advantage. If the trend continues, the Philippines risks losing its status as the top global hub for customer service. The quality of its human talent is directly linked to the industry's future.