Understanding Skills Patterns Across Different Jobs: An In-Depth Analysis

The skills required for different jobs are constantly evolving as our economy transforms. Building from the Skills Demand for the Future Economy (SDFE) 2025 report, we analysed the changes in two types of job roles, chosen for their distinct characteristics:

Engineering roles¹
Engineering jobs require deep technical expertise based in scientific knowledge.

• Engineering professionals
• Assistant engineer
• Physical and engineering science technicians 

Care roles²
These positions need strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. 

• Childcare workers and teaching assistants
• Healthcare assistants and personal care workers

The overlap in high-demand skills creates career opportunities for both lateral moves and upward advancement, allowing engineering professionals to adapt to changing industry needs and seek career progression opportunities while building on existing expertise.

Childcare workers and teaching assistants primarily require skills in the Organisational and People Management skill cluster. In contrast, healthcare assistants' work is dominated by skills within the Operational Excellence skill cluster.

While the overall proportions of skill clusters remain relatively consistent, the importance of individual skills shows significant variation over time. Communication has fluctuated widely across both childcare and healthcare roles.

Skills such as Early Childhood Programme Planning and Child Observation, have dropped from the top 10 between 2021 and 2024 for childcare workers and teacher aides. Dental Inventory Maintenance and Management has increased for healthcare assistants.

Explore the Priority Skills Dashboard to find out how the demand of important skills has changed over time.

As new priorities reshape what employers look for in their workforce, the evolution of job markets affects different sectors in varying ways. Success in today's dynamic landscape requires a commitment to continuous learning and skill development.

• Skill requirements for job roles may change over time and individuals should stay abreast of these changes to ensure relevance
• Common skills between jobs create career opportunities 

1. Based on Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) code 214 ‘Engineering Professionals I’ and 215 ‘Engineering Professionals II’. 
Based on Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) code 310: ‘Assistant Engineers’. 
Based on Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) code 311 ‘Physical And Engineering Science Technicians I’ and 312 ‘Physical And Engineering Science Technicians II’.
2. Based on Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) code 531: ‘Child Care Workers and Teacher Aides’. 
Based on Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) code 532: ‘Healthcare Assistants and other Personal Care Workers’.