Latest figures from the Ministry of Manpower report that fifty-two percent of surveyed employers– a ten percent increase from 2017– now consider relevant skills, work experience, interpersonal skills, work ethic and attitudes to be more important than educational qualification.
Not surprisingly, the MOM figures also show an increase in demand for PMET roles in the business and ICT sectors as industries continue to transform to keep up with the needs of the digital era. Almost half of new vacancies in these industries is due to business expansion. For ICT vacancies, employers seek applicants proficient in programming languages such as JavaScript, Python and C++ as well as specialised software “to manage projects and perform enterprise resource planning.”
In contrast, non-PMET opportunities such as cleaners, sales assistants, and security guards decreased in demand following the digitalization of industries and evolving needs of consumers.