Over half of workers in Singapore feel pandemic has accelerated pace of workplace digitalisation: survey

MORE THAN half of employers (56 per cent) in Singapore agree that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of digitisation in the workplace, according to the findings of a survey by global jobs website Indeed.

A third have increased technology spending, with the banking (37 per cent) and finance (35 per cent) industries most likely to have bumped up technology expenditure.

The survey, conducted in early-March this year, saw responses from 1,000 employees and 251 companies in the technology, banking, finance and enterprise sectors in Singapore.

The survey focused on the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market. More specifically, the findings showed how technology and digitisation efforts can help insulate companies and workers from upheavals in the market.

Sabrina Zolkifi, the employer brand programme manager of Asia-Pacific at Indeed, said the data from the survey shows that both employers and workers are embracing greater flexibility in work methods and leaning into the tech skills challenge.

Employees are more likely (59 per cent) to see technology as an opportunity rather than a burden (24 per cent), although a majority (58 per cent) are worried that automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will threaten their job security.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

This comes as about half of workers (52 per cent) say their job is less secure, with only 22 per cent reporting no change in perceived job security, in view of the pandemic.

One in four said their wages have fallen in the past year. The segment most likely to have experienced wage falls were those earning between S$27,000 and S$45,000 a year.

On the other hand, one in five companies has reduced their headcount because of the pandemic. Others have looked to reducing revenue forecasts (29 per cent) or introduced remote working practices (37 per cent).

The report also noted the positive attitude of workers, as nearly nine in ten employees (87 per cent) say their interest in acquiring new technological skills have increased in the last year. About three-quarters (74 per cent) have enrolled or are intending to enrol in programmes to acquire those skills.