In 2020, we saw unprecedented changes in the workforce. Some organisations streamlined their business functions, causing layoffs. Others revamped, and we saw that there was a rising demand for professionals with a diverse skills set. As we started working remotely, we saw a rise in demand for digital and soft skills. We also saw that employers had shifted from hiring based on credentials, and to hiring based on skills held. We saw professionals themselves take note of these trends and seek to reskill, or upskill.
But what will 2021 bring? And what kinds of trends can we expect to see? To help workers navigate the workforce in the new year, we’ve identified the fastest growing job categories since the onset of COVID-19*, the top 15 jobs on the rise, and the skills required for them.
| # | Category | Specific Roles | Skills Required |
| 1 | Healthcare/Medical – Support | Medical Technologist, Pharmacy Technician, Radiology Technician, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Physical Therapist Assistant | Laboratory Skills, Pharmacy, Radiology, Medical Technology, Physical Therapy |
| 2 | Education | Mathematics Tutor, Academic Tutor, Education Professional, Instructional Design Specialist, Academic Administrator | Tutoring, Teaching, Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, Educational Leadership |
| 3 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Supply Chain Assistant, Supply Chain Officer, Supply Chain Executive, Logistics Manager, Supply Chain Planning Manager | Warehouse Operations, Supply Chain Management, Logistics Management, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management |
| 4 | Healthcare/Medical – Frontline | Medical Officer, Registered Nurse, Nurse | Medicine, Healthcare, Nursing, Basic Life Support (BLS), Patient Safety |
| 5 | Social Media / Digital Marketing | Growth Manager, Social Media Coordinator, Chief Growth Officer, Social Media Strategist, Search Engine Optimization Specialist | Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Analytics, Keyword Research, Social Media Marketing |
| 6 | Finance | Tax Officer, Investor Relations Manager, Venture Partner, Private Wealth Management Specialist, Treasurer | Investor Relations, Investments, Banking, Income Tax, Treasury |
| 7 | Specialized Engineering | Game Developer, Backend Developer, Product Support Engineer, Software Engineering Specialist, Infrastructure Engineer | Go (Programming Language), Software Development, Game Development, Infrastructure, JavaScript |
| 8 | Customer Service | Client Service Associate, Client Service Analyst, Customer Care Officer, Customer Support Specialist | Client Services, Customer Experience, Customer Support, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Salesforce.com |
| 9 | Professional and Personal Coaches | Life Coach, Communication Coach, Career Coordinator, Leadership Coach | Facilitation, Personal Development, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Life Coaching |
| 10 | Online Content | Youtuber, Videographer, Film Producer, Content Coordinator, Video Editor | Content Strategy, Adobe Premiere Pro, Video Editing, Videography, Video Editing |
| 11 | Data Science | Data Science Specialist | Machine Learning, Python (Programming Language), Data Science, Natural Language Processing (NLP) |
| 12 | Social Worker | Medical Social Worker, Social Worker | Medical Social Work, Case Management, Social Services, Social Work, Individual Counselling |
| 13 | Mental Health Specialist | Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Mental Health |
| 14 | Business Development and Sales | Business Development Associate | Business Development, Market Research, Sales, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) |
| 15 | Cyber Security | Cyber Security Analyst | Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Information Security, Cybersecurity, Network Security, Machine Learning |
Please refer to the full Jobs on the Rise report, which can be accessed on LinkedIn here, and Annex A for the list of jobs and skills.
An overarching trend observed across the jobs is that almost all roles may be conducted remotely, pointing towards the importance of being equipped with basic digital skills. Globally, remote job opportunities on LinkedIn have increased four times since June. Professionals with digital skill sets will find themselves at an advantage in seeking employment opportunities within these fields.
Other key trends we observe include:
- The rise of the care economy
- Before COVID-19 hit, Singapore was already facing the pressure of an ageing population. This, coupled with the rise in medical tourism, saw significant investment in Singapore’s healthcare sector, from medical equipment and clinical research to more sophisticated care. The pandemic resulted in a sudden and sustained demand for frontline healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, and general healthcare professionals. These include Healthcare/Medical Support, Healthcare/Medical Frontline, Social Worker and Mental Health Specialist.
- There has also been a rise in demand for care professionals with varying expertise, like social workers, laboratory technicians and mental health specialists. As a whole, those working in the care industry will require a range of skills to succeed, from clinical and medical knowledge, to interpersonal and communication skills.
- The acceleration of digital transformation
- Singapore has always been an advocate for digitisation. Before COVID-19 hit, Singapore was already home to 80 of the world’s top 100 tech companies and in 2020 it raised US$3.7 billion in capital for tech startups.
- COVID-19 served to accelerate the use of technology amongst Singaporeans. According to a Google report, 1 in 3 (~36%) of all digital service consumers are new to the service due to COVID-19. And 94% of new digital service consumers intend to continue with the service post-pandemic. We see proof of this in the rise of roles in the Logistics & Supply Chain, Social Media / Digital Marketing and Online Content sectors. This has fueled a demand for talent skilled in logistics, warehousing and supply chain management, as companies strived to provide seamless service from point of sale to delivery.
- We also saw a rise in demand for online content creators, as many spent an average of 4.5 hours online each day at the height of lockdown.
- Traditional jobs will remain relevant in the future economy
- Despite COVID-19, traditional roles such as finance, business development and customer service, have maintained their level of demand and even expanded in the number of roles, in some cases.
- For example, organisations that experienced a greater demand for their products and services have had to expand their business development and sales capabilities. Customer service professionals, too, have had to be multifaceted in responding to customer feedback, and proactively working with consumers to understand their changing or evolving needs.
- A rise in demand for online education and coaching
- Education was one of the most disrupted sectors as most of the world went into lockdown and schools and institutions physically closed, and had to transition their methods of teaching and content onto digital platforms. This drove a demand for educators with digital skills.
- 2020 was also the year we saw many workers retrenched, and looking to repurpose their existing skills set in new employment. As a result, we saw a demand for coaches who were skilled in communication, career and life advice, indicated by a demand for Communications and Career Coaches.
To adapt to the rapidly changing job landscape, professionals will need to proactively pick up new skills required for these emerging roles. LinkedIn has various tools and resources to support professionals including:
- #OpenToWork profile photo frame, which has seen LinkedIn members earn 40% more recruiter InMails and 20% more messages from their communities.
- Free learning paths released last year for in-demand jobs
- Courses on LinkedIn Learning (‘Expert Tips for Answering Common Interview Questions’, ‘How to Rock an Interview’, ‘Resume Makeover’, etc.) to help professionals land a job successfully
