The past year and a half have seen a decade’s worth of digital change. Everything we do—from communication to commerce and consumption—has been transformed by digital technologies.
These advancements can unlock tremendous value for our societies. But they can also reinforce and exacerbate inequalities, unless we bridge the digital skills gap—starting with the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
A recent report from AlphaBeta (commissioned by Amazon Web Services) found that by 2025, the number of APAC workers requiring digital skills will grow over five-fold. The average worker will need to learn seven new digital skills. This will call for about 5.7 billion digital skill trainings.
How do we get to this point? What can businesses and governments in the APAC region do to improve access to digital skills training?
To find some answers, Salesforce hosted a panel discussion on ‘Bridging the digital skills gap in the APAC region’. The panel featured several industry thought leaders and government luminaries:
- Terence Chia: Cluster Director, Human Capital Cluster, Digital Industry and Talent Group, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore
- Ved Mani Tiwari: COO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), India
- Patrick Kidd: CEO, Digital Skills Organisation, Australia
- William Sim: VP, Trailhead Academy (APAC), Salesforce
Here are a few key takeaways from the session that are particularly relevant to Singapore:
Gaps can be transformed into opportunities
To close the digital skills gap, we first need to understand what’s missing. Then, find a way to transform that gap into an opportunity. For example, as banking consumers moved increasingly away from in-person banking towards digital banking, DBS Bank proactively trained branch tellers in digital skills that would enable them to provide better service to customers, including as video-tellers. That way, DBS Bank engaged their employees as partners in the bank’s digital transformation journey.
Many solutions that fill digital gaps can be replicated across the economy. IMDA facilitates this through initiatives, like the Open Innovation Programme, that connect technology solution providers with companies that need such transformative solutions. Sharing and scaling up digital capabilities, techniques, and solutions can prepare our industries for a digital future.
“Let’s see the gaps as opportunities to do good.”
The supply of digital skills must match the demand
There’s plenty of demand for digital skills. The Salesforce economy alone is expected to create 8,500 direct jobs and 17,000 indirect jobs in Singapore between 2019 and 2024.
To fill these jobs, we need skilled people, including Salesforce-qualified professionals and other skilled resources. That’s why Trailhead is taking the initiative to empower students and aspiring professionals with the in-demand digital skills that will set them up for a successful career.
Salesforce strongly believes that access to quality training shouldn’t be based on an individual’s propensity to pay for it, but simply their propensity to learn. Therefore, all Trailhead courses are free.
The end goal isn’t just to train or upskill individuals, but to place them within Salesforce’s global ecosystem of customers and partners. It’s a win-win for everyone. Aspirants can connect to exciting job opportunities within the Salesforce economy. In turn, Salesforce’s customers and partners gain access to a range of skilled professionals.
“Through our digital skilling programs, we want people to achieve better jobs, better living standards, and a better future.”
Both public and private sectors have a role to play
The Singapore government runs surveys every year to assess digital inclusion and skills. They also rely on the private sector for industry feedback and information. Both parties must work together to generate a positive impact at every level of the ‘digital skills stack’.
The lowest level, base skilling, is about ensuring that every Singaporean has basic digital literacy skills. Schools already train children to understand the fundamentals of software coding. The private sector can support these efforts by, for example, funding student laptops and providing basic IT skills training.
The next level, cross-skilling, is about recognising that digital skills are crucial not just for software programmers or data scientists, but also for marketers, service reps, and other professionals. Therefore, digital skills training should be an integral part of academic courses at the university level. The private sector can help by ensuring that academic curricula are aligned with industry demands.
The last level, upskilling, is about making sure that digital skills evolve at the same pace as industry opportunities. This is where the private sector can play the largest role. For example, Salesforce’s Trailhead Academy has partnered with Workforce Singapore to run the Salesforce Professional Conversion Program (PCP). The program equips working professionals for new career opportunities with Salesforce customers.
More public-private partnerships like these can help unlock Singapore’s true growth potential.
“Let’s simplify, align, and collaborate. Then we can exert influence.”
Digital skills development must be holistic
In the digital age, technical skills like software programming and data science will continue to be important. But as AI and automation take over more tasks, soft skills like thinking critically and communicating well will also become essential. A truly effective digital skills program will hone both hard and soft skills.
Digital now pervades every industry—including those that were traditionally non-tech. Logistics, for example, uses sensors, robotics, and even self-driving trucks to transport goods faster. The education sector is experimenting with gamification, smart boards, and chatbots to make learning more engaging.
Even skills training programs are using augmented and virtual reality tools to help professionals upskill remotely.
All of this goes to show that digital is the future. The faster we close the skills gap, the better positioned we will be to thrive in an all-digital, work-from-anywhere world.
“Since the pandemic, digital skills have become survival skills.”
Visit the Salesforce Professional Conversion Programme page to learn how you can improve your digital skills and employability in the Infocomm Technology sector.
