Singapore launches skills framework for ICT roles, to subsidise consultancy fees

• Nov 10, 2017

FIRMS and individuals in Singapore can now enjoy better access to the skills and career pathways required for new, in-demand infocomm technology (ICT) roles such as chief digital officer, data scientist and cyber risk analyst among others.

Launched on Friday by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, the skills framework for ICT covers 119 job roles and over 80 existing and emerging skills within the infocomm technology (ICT) sector and across other industry domains such as retail, logistics, finance and healthcare.

The framework is jointly developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG). It provides key information on sector and employment, career pathways, as well as a list of training programmes for skills upgrading and mastery.

Organisations interested in adopting this skills framework can tap on the consultancy advice offered by Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

WSG will also subsidise 70 per cent of the consultancy fee, which will cover up to 100 hours of consultancy advice.

“Singapore is on the cusp of an exciting digital transformation and there are many opportunities in the Infocomm Media sector. The Skills Framework for Infocomm Technology is an important collaboration by the government and industry to help our companies and workers deepen digital capabilities and to pick up new skills to stay relevant,” IMDA chief executive Tan Kiat How said in a statement.

The skills framework is also an initiative in support of the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), a tripartite initiative between the government, the industry and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to develop a skilled ICT workforce for Singapore, and to enhance employability outcomes for individuals. As of November 2017, TeSA has enabled more than 16,000 ICT professionals to up-skill and re-skill themselves.

According to a joint release by the IMDA, SSG and WSG, there are approximately 180,000 ICT professionals employed in Singapore, with about 18,000 vacancies as of 2016. The ICT sector contributes approximately 8 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP), and companies have projected hiring expectations of about 42,000 ICT professionals from 2017 to 2019.

Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-launches-skills-framework-for-ict-roles-to-subsidise-consultancy-fees