Digital upskilling tops training agenda for Singapore companies
- Shawn Liew
With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the digital transformation for many companies, 58% of employers in Singapore are training their workforce in technology-related skills to keep their businesses viable and resilient.
Speaking on the results of the NTUC LearningHub Employer Skills Survey report, Kwek Kok Kwong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, said, “Many employers are readier than before to embrace digital solutions that previously seemed daunting, and I foresee digitalisation becoming a core strategy for businesses.”
In terms of digital skills, the survey recipients identified digital marketing (44%), project management skills (43%), data analysis (40%) as key competencies for their organisations, with those in the lifestyle (67%), trade and connectivity (59%) and professional services industries (52%) viewing digital marketing skills as most important.
Kwek continued, “In this new world order where social distancing is the new norm, a business’ ability to stand out amongst the crowd digitally would give it a competitive advantage and that could explain why digital marketing emerged as the number one digital skill.
“In a data-rich environment, the ability to use data analysis for decision-making and the customisation of clients’ needs will be a game-changer. We therefore see data analysis skills emerging high in the ladder of skills in demand.”
To continue supporting the digitisation efforts of companies in Singapore, the government has announced the formation of a ministerial committee to oversee and coordinate the country’s digitisation push.
Co-chaired by Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, the ministerial committee for digital transformation’s key priorities include helping people to learn new skills and seize technology-related jobs.
It will also encourage small businesses, especially those badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to go digital, while aiming to boost digital adoption among hawkers and the elderly, segments of the society which have been identified as “the most challenging in terms of digitalisation.”
