Digital and care skills to see increased demand in Singapore
- Josephine Tan
The demand for digital and care skills in Singapore is expected to grow significantly over the next two years. This is according to SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)’s Skills Demand for the Future Economy report, which identified some of the top skills expected to experience substantial growth.
The report’s findings are based on predictive modelling of job posting data from 2012 to 2022. For the first time, the report highlighted care economy skills like effective client communication and digital economy skills such as qualitative analysis and software design. These skills are noted for their high transferability across sectors and job roles.
Industry 4.0 skills, which focuses on automation and smart solutions to enhance manufacturing processes, are also featured. These skills, such as process engineering design and technical writing, are anticipated to see increased demand.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Manpower of Singapore, emphasised the importance of informed decision-making. She highlighted that mid-career transitions are becoming more common, and SSG has been actively working with training providers to introduce more SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes, offering around 180 courses in the care, digital, and green sectors.
Despite not being part of the forecasting analysis, the green sector has experienced consistent growth in the past two years. Skills such as carbon footprint management and environment and social governance are anticipated to be increasingly sought after by employers as well, reported The Straits Times.
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Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner at KPMG in Singapore, said that knowing which skills will be in demand enables individuals to prepare for the changing nature of work and skills. “By acquiring the right skills, individuals can support the development of industries and sectors projected to experience growth,” she concluded.
