SINGAPORE: The proportion of job vacancies for professionals, managers, executives and technicians ( PMET ) increased further last year to 57.2 per cent, up from 56 per cent in 2022.
In 2013, the number stood at 39.2 per share.
” The steady increase in PMET share of job vacancies over the decade was a result of the higher demand for skilled workers”, the Ministry of Manpower ( MOM) said on Monday ( Mar 25 ) as it released its latest job vacancies report.  ,
The increased demand came from fields like as , information and communications, financial and insurance companies, professional companies, as well as health and social services.
As of December last year, there were 174 career openings for every 100 applicants. The number of jobs also rose to 79, 800 after six consecutive quarters of collapse from the document higher in March 2022.
JOBS IN DEMAND
Software, online and video designers ranked at the top of all PMET jobs in 2023.
Mr Ang Boon Heng, chairman of the Manpower Research and Statistics Department, said there are still many jobs in the technology industry despite reports of layoff.
” Going forth, I think with the rapid development of the AI and modernization trends, these technology- focused jobs will be in solid demand”, he said.
There were also more career opportunities for business development and sales experts as firms sought to expand and improve the efficiency of their techniques, the department added.
Demand for listed midwives and enrolled nurses remained solid as well, with the continued growth of the medical field.
Companies were willing to pay more to replace these in- need positions, compared to the season before, MOM said.
The range of salary for software, web and audio designers rose, starting at S$ 5, 000 last year, compared with S$ 4, 200 the year before.
For non- PMET work, staff, buy sales assistants and large trailer and vehicle drivers are among the roles with the highest vacancies.  ,
But it was also more difficult to complete server work, along with jobs for cleaners, receptionists, customer support and knowledge clerks, medical assistants and vehicle drivers.
Reasons provided include unattractive pay and physically strenuous tasks.
Overall, the proportion of job vacancies that went unfilled for six months or more fell.
MOM said there has been success in the efforts to alleviate the manpower crunch for non- PMET jobs through access to foreign manpower, technology adoption, job redesign, skills upgrading and efforts to raise wages through the Progressive Wage Model.
For PMETs, it was easier to fill vacancies such as management executives, operations research analysts and administration managers.