The ICT sector is calling for an image makeover to “make it look sexy again”.
Singapore undeniably has a fast-growing ICT sector, one that’s fuelled by our goal of becoming a Smart Nation and the wave of digitisation sweeping the economy.
While its rapid advancement has created numerous career opportunities in the sector, the acute skills shortage it is facing seems to be the hurdle. It’s good news for our labour market, but one that’s short-lived seeing as how the recent slew of initiatives to boost talent was unsuccessful.
Currently, our ICT sector only employs a mere 150,000 workers. It’s projected that we will require another 15,000 workers, especially in areas like cyber security, data analytics and network infrastructure – a number that could rise to 30,000 by 2020.
For Those Who Wants To Enter
The fact that our labour market is struggling to keep up is worrying, but the steep learning curve and rapid changes in technology aren’t making it any easier for those who wants to enter. Most mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians find it tough to move into the industry because it often means having to take a pay cut.
Entering the industry is also a tough one because graduates neither taught nor prepared with the relevant skills to work in the industry.
But we are not alone in this – our neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are also in the same boat.
Singapore has so far addressed this by attracting foreign workers, but it is proving to be one vicious cycle: The influx of foreign workers leads to lower wages, resulting in local graduates shunning this sector, which in turn creates more demand for foreign workers.
Shunning The Industry
Talent leakage is also common – students who study IT courses might end up joining another sector, like banking mainly because the pay is so much more competitive there.
Which is why the ICT sector is calling for an image makeover to “make it look sexy again”. Considering how the sector is still in its infancy, it’s a good time to show prospective employees that the prospects are good and it is Singapore’s up-and-coming sectors.
