Businesses today are reassessing their workforce productivity as more employers (79%) are looking to hire candidates with a broader set of skills to take up hybrid roles in 2022. This is in comparison to 71% of employers in 2020, according to research from the National Trades Union Congress’ LearningHub.

Over 650 working professionals in Singapore were surveyed in December 2021. The respondents include both employers and employees from across six main industry clusters in Singapore, to uncover a dual perspective about the current job market, emerging jobs and skills, as well as the training landscape.

The research showed that 80% of employers agree that there is a need for employees in hybrid roles to meet business objectives in the next two years.

NTUC LearningHub's Director of Infocomm Technology, Anthony Chew said, “Hybrid roles can be defined as roles that require a mix of different skillsets to meet workplace demands. With the emergence of new technologies bringing about digital disruption at the workplace, tasks and jobs continue to be redesigned as workers take on higher-value chain roles alongside digitalisation. Having a broader skillset comprising of Critical Core Skills, or adaptive skills, and technology skills, has been therefore deemed crucial for employees to thrive in job roles of the future.”

Across industry clusters, the top critical core skills employers are looking to hire for hybrid roles are Customer Orientation, Transdisciplinary Thinking, and Global Perspective. On the other hand, the top technology skills in-demand for hybrid roles are Web/ App Design and Development, AI/ Machine Learning, and Data Analysis.

The report also showed that employers in the modern services cluster (87%), which includes industries such as professional services, InfoComm technology and media, and financial services, are the most inclined to hire candidates with broader skillsets to take up hybrid roles. This is followed by the essential domestic services cluster (83%), which includes healthcare and education.

Chew added, “In the face of an evolving economy and a dynamic future, employees who can take on hybrid roles have become increasingly essential to business viability. To enhance their work prospects and to stay competitive, workers must acquire up-to-date knowledge and new competencies to complement their existing skillsets. This report serves as a guide for workers to be cognizant of the top skills sought after by employers so that they can start mapping their learning journey towards lifelong employability."