Written by Clare Chong

As announced by Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng on Sep 1, a new Jobs Taskforce is in place to help Singaporeans gain employment in key sectors. The 3 key areas of focus are: supporting locals to a career switch to key sectors, promoting progressive human capital practices and reskilling current employees for changes in work scopes in key sectors.

Strengthening strong Singaporean core in 10 key sectors
The 10 key sectors identified are info-communications technology and media, financial services, professional services such as accountancy, manufacturing, healthcare, wholesale trade, built environment, logistics, food services and retail.

In contrast with the National Jobs Council which targets issues from the macro level, the task force will take a more granular approach. Specifically, the jobs task force will coordinate with its tripartite partners as well as various ministries such as trade and industry, manpower, communications and information, education, health, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore to understand the changing needs of companies, identify skill shortages and consider solutions to fulfil these shortages.

Addressing Challenges Faced by Different Worker Groups
Some employees have found it challenging to keep abreast of available jobs while others may not have the required skills for new career opportunities. The task force aims to understand where these mismatches or missed matches are to cover these gaps.

Middle-aged staff in the above key sectors may also need to upskill due to the evolving job scope and the task force will see how it can help this group of workers. There will be a series of dialogues to better understand issues of businesses and workers so as to formulate targeted policies to address the needs of different worker groups.

Ensuring good jobs for Singaporeans
“The first thing is to create good jobs, create high-level, proper career paths for Singaporeans and ensure that they continually have access to these opportunities...And for those individuals, who will … be affected by the change, because of all the disruption, the shortening of the economic cycles and so on, we want to help them bounce back faster and also emerge stronger.” added Dr Tan.

While ministries continue to tackle the secure more jobs in the country, it is apparent that career pivoting and reskilling would be crucial for Singaporeans who wish to join the key sectors. Would you consider joining these 10 key sectors?