Amidst a backdrop where economic changes and technological disruptions are occurring at an accelerated pace, it becomes imperative that businesses and working people evolve with the times in order to stay ready and relevant to cope with tomorrow’s changes.
To better enable that transition for Singapore’s workforce, NTUC has introduced a new capability to help them identify and transition into new career opportunities in the future. This was announced by NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Patrick Tay in a media briefing on 1 November 2016.
This new capability, known as Future Jobs, Skills and Training (FJST), will begin operations from 1 January 2017.
FJST will encompass three areas to mitigate the mismatch of skills in the workplaces, and help better match talent to opportunities.
Building upon the Labour Movement’s commitment towards ensuring that working Singaporeans have jobs today, FJST is also complementary to existing initiatives by helping them transition into the jobs of tomorrow.
The Three-Step Approach
Described as a ‘strategic nerve centre’, FJST will leverage the Labour Movement’s extensive network of 59 affiliated unions and two associations, U Associates, communities, institutes such as NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), social enterprises and tripartite partners to systemically identify the needs of the future.
This will encompass identifying whether the jobs themselves are in nascent sectors of the economy, the requisite skills needed in the roles, and necessary training workers will need in order to make that transition.
FJST’s three approaches have been described as ‘Sensing’, ‘Synthesising’ and ‘Shooting’.
Sensing will make use of data gathered from the ground to find out where, when and what are the current and new opportunities available for workers. He shared that sources of such information can, and will come from the Labour Movement’s network of unions, associations, communities, touch points, social enterprises and tripartite partners.
Synthesising is all about crunching the data, numbers and figures. Information will be analysed, corroborated and validated to help shape and guide how the Labour Movement measures, predicts and shapes new opportunities in our market. This will then allow for an in-depth look at the exact skills and training needed for Singaporeans to tap these new opportunities.
Lastly, Shooting involves turning knowledge into strategic action. With the research findings, the Labour Movement will be able to act upon the information through the development of relevant skills and training courses, and adopting a more focused and targeted approach to help Singaporeans make the actual transition.
The Future On The Horizon
At press time, NTUC This Week understands that FJST will direct its efforts at some of the bright spots in the economy which could include information and communications technology, childcare and healthcare.
“The rate at which disruptions are impacting working people and businesses alike, is taking place at an accelerated rate. With the extensive network of the Labour Movement today, we are in a good position to be able to help facilitate the matching of jobs and skills of the future, and ensure that our workforce becomes ready to ride these waves of change.
“At the same time, I urge workers and employers to keep an open mind, and be aware of the three attributes required to help the workforce of tomorrow into tomorrow’s jobs – adaptability, agility and abilities. I am hopeful that with such paradigm shift, our working people will be able to move into the ‘high touch’ or high tech’ roles that will shape the jobs landscape in future,” said ASG Tay.
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