New Collar Roles: Why Skills-Based Assessments Are So Crucial

“A quiet revolution is reshaping the global workplace”, according to recent industry reports. It was only apt that industry leaders at the recent Economic Times Future Forward Singapore Chapter 2025 discussed the rise of new-collar jobs, which emphasises skill over traditional qualifications.

Panellists at the event shared the following:

Employers need to move towards a more “purposeful agenda”, looking beyond simple profit margins; and
Employees need to build their ability to “unlearn and relearn” continuously, given the pace of tech changes in all industries.

A McKinsey study cited also showed that hiring for skills is five times more predictive of job performance, compared to hiring based on traditional qualifications. Christina Lu Maxwell, Head of HR, APAC at Neste Asia Pacific, added: “The more skills each one of us have, the easier we can pivot (to a changing employment market).”

The big question

Which industries are employers adjusting hiring requirements and introducing skills-based assessments for jobs available, then?

Nilay Khandelwal, Senior Managing Director, Michael Page Singapore, talks of which ones are doing so. He also shares how jobseekers can adjust their CVs and resumes to showcase their demonstrable skills, not simply showcase job titles.

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He also mentions the mindset changes that Singaporean workers need to make to nab new collar roles, particularly in terms of

Attitude and willingness to learn;
Staying connected and networking;
Aptitude-building to show problem skills; and
Adaptability to market shifts.

Of course, potential employers may compare you with other candidates that follow a more traditional path. The trick is to show how your commitment to lifelong learning has made you a worker who matches genuine interest in the industry with skill.

In this new job market, he adds, the bottom line for talent is the marketplace is tight. As such, workers must show they’re continually updating their “software”, and showcasing how those skills can add value to current and future employers.

Key highlights to listen to:

(1:06) Are employers really hiring based on skills yet?
(2:36) And for Singapore workers — are their CVs and expectations reflective of their true skills?
(3:53) Which industries are hiring for New Collar jobs, and what are skills-based assessments focused on?

Listen to this podcast and learn more!