NEW training programmes and a reference guide for training providers will be introduced to grow the pool of supply chain management (SCM) professionals in Singapore, supporting the country’s status as a regional supply chain hub.

Some 700 new SCM job openings for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) are expected through 2025, based on the projected gap between demand and supply, the SCM-Jobs Transformation Map study released on Monday (Jul 10) indicated.

Singapore currently has around 70,000 SCM professionals across both manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries such as food and beverage, wholesale, and retail trade. Their median salary is about S$5,900 – higher than the national median of S$4,680.

The study noted that manufacturing and SCM investments in South-east Asia have increased, due to the diversification of business and supply chains in Asia. At the same time, job scopes and required skills in SCM roles are changing due to trends such as digitalisation, sustainability, and a greater focus on supply chain resilience.

To equip the workforce with the relevant skills, new programmes are being launched. These include a pilot supply chain masterclass by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and software provider o9 Solutions, and a graduate diploma in logistics and SCM by SUSS.

For mid-career professionals, there is an Industry Practice Masters by the Singapore Management University Academy that includes an SCM specialisation, as well as a SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme in digital supply chain by the Singapore Institute of Technology.

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The SCM Skills Plan will also be launched on Jul 31. This reference guide highlights trends affecting SCM jobs and in-demand skills, to help companies improve in-house SCM training, guide training providers in curriculum development, and inform individuals on how to upskill and reskill for such roles.

“This will enable training providers to respond speedily to meet the current and future training needs of the sector,” said SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) chief skills officer Gog Soon Joo. The guide – co-created by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and SSG – will be available on the website of EDB.

These initiatives were announced by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling at the supply chain event “Singapore – Leading Supply Chain Management Hub in Asia” on Monday, along with findings of the SCM-Jobs Transformation Map study.

The study assessed 38 PMET job roles in SCM, and found that 12 are expected to require new skills due to the trends of digitalisation, sustainability and a heightened focus on enhanced resiliency and agility.

For instance, demand and supply planners may need new skills in big data analytics, while a procurement specialist may need to learn business continuity planning.

The trends have also meant new job roles in SCM, such as system designers and data analysts. More roles are expected to emerge, such as customer insight analyst, integrated business planner and transformation lead.

The study was commissioned by EDB, Workforce Singapore and the Ministry of Manpower, in partnership with SSG.

Damian Chan, executive vice-president of planning and policy at EDB, said that years of investment in Singapore’s connectivity have laid a “strong foundation” for it “to serve as a trusted SCM hub for global businesses”.

“This opens new doors for local enterprises with SCM capabilities and facilitates other Singapore businesses in accessing emerging markets beyond our shores,” he said.