Ready to Hire for skills? LinkedIn to pilot initiative linking skills to job roles in Singapore

NewsAugust 18, 2021 18:05

Written by Max Loong

A pilot programme to promote hiring based on skills rather than a candidate’s educational qualifications was introduced on Saturday, 14th August by networking site LinkedIn. The skills-based hiring programme started in the United States and a pilot will commence from September in Singapore. Now a joint initiative with the National Jobs Council, The Skills Path program will help job seekers develop and demonstrate their skills, said LinkedIn. 

The programme offers job seekers free LinkedIn learning courses, allows them to validate these skills with assessments and will suggest jobs to these people based on their skills. 

Skills Path is currently available for six roles: Customer service, data analyst, project manager, recruiter, supply chain coordinator and sales development.

The skill assessments job seekers can take include analytical skills, attention to detail, project management, critical thinking and data analysis.

 

8 Companies to Start Initiative

Eight companies - CapitaLand, Carousell, foodpanda, Lazada, NTUC Enterprise, OCBC Bank, ZALORA, and Zuellig Pharma - have joined Skills Path and for a start, they will offer one position each under the programme.

The announcement was made as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released its 23rd Jobs Situation Report, which gave updates on partnerships between government agencies, individuals and organisations to help job seekers. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said that the ministry is taking an “all hands-on deck” approach. 

LinkedIn’s managing director for Asia Pacific Feon Ang said she foresees that there will be more companies joining the initiative in the future.

“We know that companies usually hire based on candidate, education, qualifications or prior experience in a certain company or a certain industry. But this is something that needs to change. We need to start hiring and getting hired based on skills,” she said.

 

New Hiring Trend For A Skill-based Economy?

Indeed, as we are moving in a skills-based economy where skills are more favoured than qualifications, it might be time for employers to rethink their hiring strategies.

What do think about this initiative?