- Demand for data mining analysts in Singapore increased by 40 times from 2012 to 2021
- Number of online job postings for cybersecurity professionals doubled from 2020 to 2021
- Demand for marketing and HR specialists with data management skills has more than doubled between 2020 and 2021
In Singapore’s advancing digital landscape, the demand for skilled digital professionals is on the rise. As more businesses pivot towards digitalisation, the number of online job postings for digital roles recorded a corresponding surge. This trend has been fueled by the growth of the digital economy, which has created economic opportunities and exciting opportunities for job seekers with a range of skill sets.
Digital occupations accounted for an annual average of 11% of total online job postings in Singapore, according to a joint study by Randstad and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Randstad, the world’s leading human resources solutions agency, released the 2022 OECD-Randstad Report: Skills for the Digital Transition report today. The report highlights key trends and insights on in-demand digital occupations as well as how to prepare talent for tech-driven jobs of the future.
Across the world, the tech industry has consistently lacked sufficient skilled professionals who are capable of driving innovation. In Singapore, the job vacancy rate within the tech sector has been higher than the national average for a decade, highlighting an urgent need for a sustainable talent management resolution.
We want to leverage data to help employers better understand where bottlenecks are emerging and where policy action lies, so that they can develop their talent recruitment and re-skilling programmes to create a more sustainable workforce.
singapore has a high share of digital jobs in online postings
On average, digital occupations represent approximately 11% of total online job postings in Singapore and the United Kingdom. In Canada and the United States, digital occupations represent 6% and 7% respectively.
In EU countries, digital jobs make up 7% of the total online job postings in France, nearly 9% in Belgium, 10% in Germany, 11% in the Netherlands, and close to 12% in Italy and Spain.
Many European countries have established digital hubs for technology giants seeking to boost and expand their presence. Despite being a small city-state, Singapore’s forward-looking technology agenda attracts many global businesses and creates new digital-driven jobs to elevate the collective workforce. This allows the country to level itself with some of the world’s most vibrant capitals as a destination for organisations and talent.
top in-demand skills for online tech jobs in singapore: java, middleware and web analytics
Software developers proficient in Java, middleware and web analytics are highly sought after in Singapore.
From mechanics and manufacturing to services and healthcare, the labour market has been permeated by the need for digital products and digital services. This trend is largely driven by access to new technologies and changing consumption behaviours.
The rise in demand for jobs has created a competitive landscape for software developers, programmers and engineers. Software developers are largely responsible for the design and integration of increasingly sophisticated systems and organisations’ unified networks. We also observed increasing job advertisements for high-level programming languages like Python, SQL and Java.
According to the report, the number of online job postings for these roles increased by 410% from 2012 to 94,045 in 2021. The in-demand skills for technologists employers mostly seek are web development, middleware, java, quality assurance.
In today’s digital-first world, organisations are using software solutions like SaaS to access necessary programs without a huge initial investment. These on-demand services are powered by cloud computing, which has fuelled great demand for tech professionals who can operate complex cloud architectures with skills such as database management and software development.
As software networks become intertwined between different solutions and infrastructures, it will be necessary for developers and infrastructure professionals to upskill so that they can remain relevant in their jobs.
demand growth for data mining analysts in singapore saw a 40-fold increase over a decade
The number of online job posts for data mining analysts in Singapore jumped from approximately 300 postings in 2012 to nearly 12,000 in 2021. Comparing the numbers in 2020 and 2021, online job postings for these job roles nearly doubled from 5,850 to 11,834.
Data is a powerful asset and a reliable source of information for business leaders to make future-proof projections and decisions that determine the company’s success. This has led to an ever-increasing demand for data analysts with skills in statistical analysis, data visualisation and programming languages such as Python and R.
As they plot their growth, organisations will need to be able to translate complex data into easy-to-understand insights to make informed decisions that support their growth plans in the long run.
In the healthcare industry, medical professionals are diagnosing illnesses and predicting prognosis outcomes with greater ease than ever. Meanwhile, the agriculture industry is gathering predictive insights about energy consumption and forecasting harvests more accurately.
As more intelligent tools and platforms emerge and augment our way of working, today’s professionals are merely touching the surface of how data is being used intelligently in our daily interactions. With more skilled talent in the space, companies will be able to produce better results and drive greater innovation.
the demand for cybersecurity professionals doubled from 2020 to 2021
Data from online job postings reveals that organisations in Singapore seek highly-specialised cybersecurity professionals with a strong knowledge of information security and network security, as well as of IT management.
As more people start to rely on technology to manage their daily lives, the threat of cybercrime has become more prevalent. Every year, there have been numerous data breaches impacting organisations and consumers. To combat this, companies are seeking cybersecurity professionals who can help them develop new and effective ways to protect themselves against cyberattacks.
In 2021, there were 3,500 online job posts for cybersecurity professionals, which is twice more than the 1,750 postings made in 2020.
As people become smarter about managing their data crumbs and trails, more individuals are seeking greater authority over their data collection and use. The emergence of the Web3 era calls for more robust encryption and hashing to prevent complex data tampering.
Companies will have to step up to not only comply with data protection regulations, but work with users to ensure a more favourable experience and outcome with their digital platforms.
demand for chief information officers increased by 65% between 2020 and 2021
Demand for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) increased by 65%, from 541 positions in 2020 to 892 positions in 2021. While the increase may be insignificant when compared to other digital occupations, it speaks volume given the importance of the role.
When business leaders see the value in appointing competent CIOs and CTOs, it communicates the companies’ commitment to driving innovation projects that allow them to keep pace with digital transformation. Digital transformation involves the application of digital processes and technologies across a business to improve and create new products and services.
Though it is challenging to headhunt senior executives due to heightened expectations for technical skills, leadership qualities and soft managerial skills, it is the right move for companies now. Organisations that have forward-thinking yet realistic leaders have already won half the war for talent in the world of tech.
download the full report - 2022 OECD-Randstad report: skills for the digital transition
The ‘2022 OECD-Randstad report: Skills for the Digital Transition’ report examines a diverse range of digital jobs and the skill and technology demands for these job roles using a unique set of data collected from millions of job postings published online in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Singapore and Spain.
Reach out to our specialised consultants for the latest talent trends or want to know more about the latest industry and job market insights. Through market mapping and conversations with our clients and candidates, we can inform you of the latest trends and talent expectations data that you can turn into actionable strategies to attract and retain talent.
Alternatively, if you are a job seeker seeking for a better work-life balance and more career development opportunities, explore your options with Randstad. Find thousands of job opportunities and apply for a job that fits your skills and expectations.