Forty-two per cent of Singaporean IT decision-makers are hiring and reskilling recruits from unrelated sectors to close the tech skills gap in their organisation.
The most common sources of reskilled workers are administration and business support (40%), manufacturing (23%), finance and insurance (22%) and those returning to work after a period of absence (21%).
These reskilled workers tend to help businesses bridge the tech skills gaps by working as IT technicians (46%), as well as in cloud computing (45%) and data analysis roles (30%).
Additionally, the Equinix 2022 Global Tech Trends Survey reveals that IT leaders in Singapore are also seeking to recruit through higher education and apprenticeship programmes.
They are running collaborative training programmes with higher education institutions (46%), offering student internships (37%), taking part in college/university career fairs (32%) and partnering on degree apprenticeships (32%).
Equinix, for example, has pledged US$160,000 towards sustainability-focused scholarships for programmes administered by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), to expand learning beyond traditional academic disciplines. The sustainability scholarship also provides students with internship and employment opportunities at Equinix.
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“The survey reveals unmatched skill sets are hampering talent acquisition across tech-focused teams globally. There is an overall lack of understanding about the specific skills needed for certain roles, and potential candidates need better guidance around training, preparation, and job opportunities,” says Brandi Galvin Morandi, Equinix’s chief legal and HR officer.
She continues: “This challenge hands our industry the opportunity to recruit and develop talent in different ways. We believe companies should foster a progressive talent development roadmap for tech roles that cater to both inexperienced and trained candidates.
“Another opportunity is mentorship programmes — helping potential candidates gain access to an established network for career guidance while connecting companies with suitable candidates for a robust talent pool. We also encourage higher education and vocational training institutions to work with tech teams within companies to ensure their curriculum imparts the right skills to students and prepares them for their desired careers.”
