Employers focus on digital upskilling: survey

Digital marketing has been voted the top skill employers are focussing on in post-COVID Singapore.

Over half, or 58%, of employers have focussed on their staff's technology-related skills when training them, according to NTUC LearningHub’s Employer Skills Survey report. Of sush skills, digital marketing (44%) was the most sought-after.

“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,” NTUC LearningHub’s CEO Kwek Kok Kwong said.

Other skills employers require from their employees are project management skills (43%) and data analysis (40%). The report noted that these have superseded other skills including basic IT support (33%) and data-driven decision making skills (32%).

Amongst business sectors, the lifestyle (67%), trade and connectivity (59%) and rofessional services industries (52%) prioritise training their staffs' digital marketing skills the most, whilst the built environment (66%) and essential somestic services industries are most keen on project management skills. About 44% of employers surveyed under the manufacturing sector stated that data analytics skills were most critical for their operations.

"In a data-rich environment, the ability to use Data Analysis for decision-making and the customisation clients’ needs will be a game-changer. We therefore see Data Analysis skills emerging high in the ladder of skills in demand. Employers are also demanding not only workers who possess strong Project Management skills to manage complex projects, but also those who can sort out their backend workflow to make the customer journey a seamless one," Kwek added.