More Singaporeans tapped professional conversion programmes last year to learn new skills and switch careers, amid a weakened hiring market due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Straits Times, citing research from Workforce Singapore. Approximately 6,270 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) joined such programmes last year, a jump of 41% from 2019.  These mid-career workers went through structured training and gained on-the-job experience so they can change sectors or be redeployed to other roles within their companies, the government agency stated. The higher uptake is due to the Covid-19 outbreak disrupting industries and displacing workers. More businesses are also using this period to transform themselves. Linda Teo, country manager at recruitment agency ManpowerGroup Singapore, said many workers have been retrenched or had their jobs phased out. "With opportunities being limited, more people are open to switching industries or using the downtime to pick up new skills," Teo added.