Tech talent hunt continues despite layoffs as firms deepen digitalisation
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ITE students at IMDA's Tech Skill-Up Festival held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on March 12.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
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SINGAPORE – Tech jobs in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning engineering, cloud architecture, cyber-security analysis and software creation are increasingly in demand as non-tech firms deepen their digitalisation efforts.
Some 100 companies here, including Huawei, Accenture and Amazon Web Services (AWS), are looking to fill more than 1,000 vacancies in these areas, signalling a strong demand for tech roles despite massive retrenchments among major tech firms globally in recent months.
Some of these positions have long been in demand, and the growing adoption of AI and cloud services by businesses has fuelled even greater need for these roles, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How.
“Graduates and tech professionals are concerned about employment prospects, given the recent news of retrenchments in some companies. The sector remains poised for growth and will continue to deliver good jobs for Singaporeans,” said Mr Tan, speaking at the inaugural Tech Skill-Up Festival held at Marina Bay Sands on March 12.
Jointly organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), trade association SGTech and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute, the job fair targets graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics, along with mid-career switchers.
The job fair is also being conducted virtually
The recruitment drive comes in the wake of layoffs at tech firms, including TikTok, which let go of at least a dozen employees in Singapore in February cut 5 per cent of its workforce
In his address to hundreds of industry exhibitors and job seekers, many of whom are students, Mr Tan said the demand for tech roles in Singapore continues to be healthy, accounting for a rising share of total employment, from 4.5 per cent in 2019 to 5.3 per cent in 2024.
Companies from non-tech industries like healthcare and manufacturing are also seeking tech talent, consistently contributing to around 58 per cent of all tech jobs, Mr Tan said.
He urged the industry to hire based on candidates’ skills rather than their qualifications, so as to address the shortage of tech talent, which, according to research, is among the hardest roles to fill.
Businesses can look at an individual’s practical experiences, such as work history and projects at school that showcase skills like problem-solving and communication, rather than just education history.
Mr Tan said the TechSkills Accelerator for Institute of Technical Education and Polytechnic Alliance, which assists polytechnic and ITE graduates in finding tech jobs, has helped graduates fill more than 1,000 roles since it was launched in 2022.
More firms are recruiting ITE and polytechnic graduates too, scouting for them based on skills over qualifications. More than 300 firms, including Accenture, OCBC and DBS, have recruited a total of over 1,300 students on long-term internships since 2023 to help them gain practical skills on the job, Mr Tan said.
Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How speaking at IMDA’s Tech Skill-Up Festival held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on March 12.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
UOB, for instance, recruits more than 50 ITE and polytechnic graduates yearly for a 12-month internship under its U Unleash Programme, which equips them with practical skills and potentially paves a way for them towards full-time employment, head of talent acquisition Jay Chan said.
The internship allows the bank to train graduates with the necessary skills and to assess if they are a good fit for a full-time role at the bank, said Mr Chan.
UOB software engineer Amirul Helmy, 24 – one of the polytechnic graduates hired full-time by the bank – said that highlighting specialised electives, certifications and school projects on his resume brought relevant skills to the forefront during job interviews.
UOB senior officer Amirul Helmy Bin Roslan (left), and Ensign Infosecurity analyst Zarine Blossom Wong Soo Ching, at IMDA's Tech Skill-Up Festival.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Mr Aman Tej Singh, regional head consult and practices for IT services provider Kyndryl, said the focus on skills is a more practical approach to hiring, as it enables companies to find employees who are a better match for their specific needs. Applicants show their competence in skills-based tests during interviews, which is more valuable than simply relying on qualifications, he said.
Kyndryl is on the hunt for talent with skills in data sciences and AI, and is expected to fill at least three positions in such roles, according to its listing on the festival’s virtual career fair page. Among the listings of dozens of firms are those by Huawei, IMDA and AWS, which, at the time of reporting, aim to fill at least 10 roles each.
IMDA has also collaborated with other companies to grow the supply of tech talent. With Microsoft, it announced on March 11 a programme called Code; Without Barriers, which offers training and employment opportunities to 10,000 women under programmes that offer certification in cloud, AI and other skills. The women will come from partnering companies like CapitaLand and Bank of Singapore.
Learning new skills has helped cyber threat hunting specialist Zarine Blossom Wong, 24, rise through the ranks since joining cyber-security firm Ensign Infosecurity. She joined the firm as a security operations analyst after graduating from Republic Polytechnic in 2021 with a diploma in Infocomm Security Management.
As she performed well, the firm sponsored her training to develop specialised skills in incident handling and cyber security strategy, making her an even more valuable asset.
