British Council: More skilled workers than nurses taking IELTS for OFW jobs

Skilled workers have overtaken nurses as the largest group of Filipinos taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), reflecting changing overseas employment opportunities, the British Council said Thursday.

Speaking at the British Council's media forum on Thursday, Mike Cabigon, the organization's head of market for English and exams, said demand for the English language assessment has broadened significantly in recent years.

"In the past three years, this has diversified into skilled workers taking IELTS," Cabigon said.

He said test takers now include butchers, welders, line workers, poultry workers, drivers, and other skilled professionals seeking employment abroad.

"For a time, I think in the past two years, we have had more skilled workers taking the test than nurses," he added.

Cabigon said the shift has opened pathways for many Filipinos to migrate with their families to countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand through skilled worker programs.

He noted that some applicants have secured overseas opportunities despite not completing basic education.

READ | EXPLAINER: What is IELTS? Here's why Filipinos need it for studying or working abroad

According to Cabigon, strong English communication skills have become increasingly important beyond traditional healthcare professions.

"Better English communication skills facilitate access to opportunities," he said.

He said English proficiency is now sought not only in the business process outsourcing industry, but also among companies that have become more globally integrated following the pandemic. He added that this is also the same for home-based virtual assistant jobs.

Cabigon also pointed to growing opportunities for Filipinos pursuing higher education overseas, noting that universities in many countries require proof of English proficiency because their academic programs are taught in English.

Beyond overseas work and education, Cabigon said artificial intelligence is changing how Filipinos prepare for English language tests by making learning resources more accessible, especially for working professionals.

"The thing with AI is, if they're able to know how to use AI—even ChatGPT—they will be able to practice for writing and speaking," he said.

According to Cabigon, several AI platforms can already provide feedback on writing and speaking based on IELTS standards, allowing prospective test takers to practice independently at little or no cost.

"There are a lot of resources available online for people who want to take English assessments to practice using AI tools at no cost," he said.

However, he emphasized that AI is not yet capable of fully assessing advanced English proficiency.

According to Cabigon, AI-based assessment is currently suitable for learners up to the B1 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Assessing higher proficiency levels still requires evaluating more nuanced aspects of communication.

"For B2, C1 and C2 levels, that's where the nuances of language communication come in—accent, sarcasm, everything—and AI isn't yet capable to monitor or assess those," he said.

Cabigon said the British Council is embracing AI as a learning aid while continuing to rely on human assessment for higher-level English examinations.

"We're not really shying away from AI. We're actually using AI tools in our assessments and in the way we prepare our students and test takers," he said.

He cited IELTS Ready Premium, a preparation platform provided free to registered IELTS test takers, which includes AI-assisted speaking practice and other review resources.

"You don't have to pay anything more. It comes free when they register for the test, and they can maximize the resources that we have in the platform," he said.

Cabigon said the British Council aims to help candidates become sufficiently prepared to pass the examination on their first attempt.

For those who narrowly miss the required score in one component of the exam, he said IELTS now offers a One Skill Retake, allowing eligible test takers to retake only one of the four language skills instead of repeating the entire examination. — VDV, GMA News