It’s not like there aren’t any jobs out there, despite the weight of Covid-19 on the economy. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) latest Labour Market Report, job vacancies reached an all-time high of 92,100 in June this year.
In fact, according to Ang Boon Heng, the director of MOM’s manpower research and statistics department, “a lot of the indicators have recovered to a level similar to pre-pandemic times.”
The challenge, however, is with employers finding the right talent for their vacancies, according to Singapore Manpower Minister Tan See Leng.
As it stands, close to 44,000 jobseekers have found jobs through career matching services under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package as of end-July this year, Minister Tan revealed recently.
Earlier this year, Workforce Singapore (WSG) also revealed that its complimentary career matching services also aided over 14,000 jobseekers to find their right roles in the first half of 2021.
These numbers also include mature workers aged 40 and above, persons with disabilities, as well as those who have been unemployed for at least six months.
So what jobs are out there?
According to MOM’s report, the sharpest rise in job vacancies was seen in manufacturing (+6,300) and construction (+5,100), with vacancies also rising due to strong demand in information and communications (+2,700), administrative and support services (+2,400), and professional services (+2,400).
These numbers have led to the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed numbers improving to 1.63, rising above 1 for the first time since March 2019!
To aid the filling of such vacancies, a new jobs task force set up in September 2021 will coordinate efforts across key government agencies, to enable more Singaporeans to take up in-demand jobs with good wages and prospects, in key sectors such as financial services, and info-communications and technology.
Career matching is crucial
Minister Tan shared that if these vacancies are accumulating and not filled, it shows that employers are finding it difficult to get the right talent, and some of these vacancies are also because of a shortage of digital skills amongst our workforce and job seekers.
Of course, some roles could also be less attractive to other options available to job seekers, due to wage or working conditions, he added.
This is where career matching and advice becomes crucial. WSG and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) have expanded their service touchpoints, with 24 new SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres established island-wide, in every HDB town.
You can approach career ambassadors at these centres. If you require to see a career coach, they can provide one-on-one guidance, and can advise you on how to tailor your resume, to the job you are applying for and prepare for job interviews. They can also lend a listening ear.
In addition, whether you are starting your first job, looking for a career change, or rejoining the workforce, there are career matching services to guide you to become more employable in this ever-changing employment landscape. The programmes and resources by WSG available to support your career development include:
- Access to quick and relevant career tips and resources at your convenience
- A professional and dedicated career advisory team who you can speak with for career guidance
- MyCareersFuture, the national jobs portal that can support your job search and open up career prospects based on your skills
- Career preparatory workshops, networking sessions and walk-in interviews to improve your job search chances. View WSG’s calendar of events and register here.
As Minister Tan said in a Facebook post recently: “The improvement in the labour market is a reflection of both businesses and workers adapting to the new environment, and seizing new opportunities.”
Make sure you seize your opportunities with quality career advice today!
