Studies on current and future demand and supply of science and technology (S&T) human resource in the country were conducted to determine specific gaps in specific sectors, industries and professions that need to be addressed. Three (3) studies dealt with projecting such requirements revealing major findings crucial to S&T human resource development planning.

The first study on S&T Manpower Supply and Requirements of the Philippine Economy: 2001-2005, conducted by the University of Asia & Pacific, projected a yearly average increase of 1,435,045 S&T personnel needed for various occupations from 2001 to 2005. A quantitative study of S&T human resource supply and demand showed that out of the 59 S&T jobs analyzed, 30 jobs would be in a manpower surplus condition and 29 jobs would have a shortage of manpower supply. Among those jobs in short of manpower supply are the various engineering fields (civil, electrical, electronics & telecommunications, mechanical, metallurgical, geodetic, industrial, etc.), medical doctors, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, nutritionists, production and operations managers, and directors and chief executives of corporations.

A separate but related study was conducted to formulate projections of national and regional S&T human resource requirements of the industries in the Philippines from 2001 to 2010 and to compare such requirements with the projected supply at the national and regional scale. It was also aimed at establishing baseline data of the qualitative aspect of the projected S&T human resource requirements in the private sector. The Science Education Institute (SEI) collaborated with the UP Statistical Center Research Foundation for this study. Preliminary reports showed that 51.9% of the 2,257 sampled private firms are engaged in R&D. Most of the firms, which are doing R&D, conduct their research in the country (71.3%) mostly with Filipinos as researchers.

More than half of the personnel in the surveyed firms are college graduates (56.4%) while those with master's units or degrees account for 3.5%. Full-fledged Ph.D. holders or those with Ph.D. units account for mere O.6% of the personnel in the firms surveyed. Traditional fields, such as, Business, Accounting, Economics and related fields comprise the biggest chunk of professionals. The same study reflects the preference of firm executives for graduates of computer science and related courses. They have also indicated preference for graduates of major schools in Metro Manila like UP, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and regional schools such as Central Luzon State University, University of San Carlos, MSU-IIT, University of Southern Mindanao and others. The survey also cited increasing demand for S&T personnel in Regions 4,5,8,9, 11 and CARAGA. Likewise, demand for degrees in the following areas will increase significantly in the next 10 years: geology, geography, fishery and forestry.

The study entitled: Demographic Estimates of S&T Human Resource in the Philippine Government Sector: 2001-2010 was undertaken in cooperation with the Demographic Research Development Foundation, Inc. The objectives of the study are to provide an estimation of government S&T and non-S&T personnel and positions in national government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations and local government units; identify gaps and surpluses between the demand and supply of S&T manpower in the government sector; and determine the absorption of S&T manpower in government agencies. Initial results showed that the majority of listed position titles in the government are classified as non-S&T with only 34% of the existing position titles classified as S&T. Position titles in the professional category are also more likely to be classified as S&T. Other significant findings include gender ratio of employees, education and training and the share of DOST scholars in the government labor sector.

SEI continues to undertake sectoral forecast studies on S&T human resources in aid of developing sound policies in S&T HRD. The findings of these studies are important in determining priorities in S&T human resource development by the education sector and in allocating resources to address the gaps identified. Likewise, important decisions and careful planning would have to be made regarding absorbing human resource surpluses by the labor market.