New digital tool taps government data to give personalised jobs, skills recommendations

JOBSEEKERS can get personalised jobs and skills recommendations from an upcoming feature on the government jobs portal MyCareersFuture, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 1) during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

To be introduced in the third quarter, the new CareersFinder feature draws on government data on “skills adjacencies” and job transitions in the labour market. Using this, as well as data provided by jobseekers, it identifies job listings on MyCareersFuture and recommends relevant MySkillsFuture courses.

“CareersFinder is the first step to try and integrate jobs and training recommenders,” said Dr Tan. It follows feedback from some workers that they prefer to explore jobs and skills upgrading possibilities at the same time.

CareersFinder will be launched in beta mode, but “will become more powerful as the data grows” and be enhanced over time “to make it more responsive to jobseekers’ needs”, he added.

The new feature is part of efforts to empower workers to manage their “career health”, he said. This involves staying aware of career prospects; taking “deliberate and purposeful” steps to stay competitive; and being prepared to bounce back from setbacks.

Besides supporting workers to reskill and upskill, Singapore must build “a more inclusive labour market” with pathways for different interests and inclinations, said Dr Tan.

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This includes “hands-on work”, which has traditionally been less valued despite needing deep skills, as Members of Parliament Edward Chia and Pritam Singh highlighted earlier in the debate.

The Manpower Ministry will work with the National Trades Union Congress to redesign such “skilled trades” to offer better salaries, clear career and skills progression ladders, as well as other ways to attract, retain and reward workers.

By shifting the prospects and perceptions of such jobs, and offering attractive career pathways, the number of locals in these roles can be increased “in a sustainable way”, said Dr Tan. More details on this initiative will be shared at a later date.

As for bouncing back, the Citizens’ Panel on employment resilience has been discussing issues such as how to help unemployed workers get back into jobs – with such “re-employment support” having been a hot topic. The panel will conclude its work by end-March, said Dr Tan, adding that he looks forward to their recommendations.