As skills in demand continue to evolve across industries, Singapore’s job market is shifting faster than most people expect. According to The Straits Times, there were 158 job vacancies for every 100 job seekers in 2025. Yet many candidates still struggle to stand out.

Why is that happening? The same report featured insights from Vertical Institute’s Generative AI instructor, Tan Kwan Hong. He pointed out a key issue: 

“Employers today are no longer impressed by tool familiarity alone. Candidates who stand out are not necessarily the most technical….”

That leads to a more important question. If opportunities are growing, what are employers actually looking for? And more importantly, are you building the right skills to match that demand?

In this article, we break down the key findings from The Straits Times and share our perspective on what they mean for you. If you want to stay competitive, you need to understand what is changing and how to respond before the gap widens.

 

Quick Takeaways

• Nearly half of Singapore’s job vacancies come from newly created roles driven by AI adoption.
• Employers prioritise practical skills over degrees, focusing on real work application and results.
• Data analytics, generative AI, and software development remain in high demand across industries.
• Job roles are becoming hybrid, requiring both technical ability and strong business communication skills.
• Structured, hands-on courses help you build proof of work that matches current hiring expectations.

 

What Is Driving Singapore’s AI Hiring Boom

According to The Straits Times, 49.3% of all job vacancies in Singapore in 2025 came from newly created roles. Companies are not just replacing workers; they are expanding and building new capabilities.

 

AI Is Fueling New Job Creation

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate. Sectors like finance, technology, and professional services are investing in AI to improve workflows and decision-making. This creates demand for people who can apply AI and data skills in real tasks.

 

Demand for Tech Roles Continues to Grow

The Straits Times highlights strong demand for software developers, data scientists and system analysts. These roles support digital operations, which are now central to most businesses.

 

New Roles Are Emerging Fast

Some positions did not exist a few years ago. One example is AI trainers, where Singapore stands out as a leading employer in the region. These roles focus on improving how AI systems learn and perform, showing how quickly the job market is evolving.

As companies create new roles and redefine existing ones, they are also rethinking how they assess talent, which is why skills now matter more than traditional qualifications.

 

Why Skills Matter More Than Degrees Today

Employers are changing how they hire. Today, around 80% of job vacancies in Singapore do not list academic qualifications as the main requirement. That is a clear shift.

 

Hiring Now Focuses on What You Can Do

Companies want proof of ability. They care less about where you studied and more about how you solve problems. In many cases, employers now expect you to show how you apply what you know in real situations.

This speeds up hiring. It also reduces guesswork for employers.

 

Results Matter More Than Credentials

A degree shows what you have learned. It does not show how you apply it. Employers now expect you to demonstrate outcomes.

For example:

• Can you analyse data and clearly explain insights?
• Can you use AI tools to improve a workflow?
• Can you create something that solves an actual problem?

If you cannot show this, you fall behind candidates who can.

 

What This Means for You

You need to rethink how you prepare for jobs. A certificate alone will not carry you through. You need proof of work.

That could mean:

• A data project that shows your analysis process
• A simple app or automation you built
• A case study explaining how you used AI to improve a task

Short courses and practical training now play a bigger role because they focus on application. You pick up a skill and apply it in real situations. That’s what employers expect.

If an employer asked you to prove your skills today, what would you show? The answer to that question becomes clearer once you understand which skills are actually in demand.

 

The Most In-Demand Skills in 2026

Now that hiring focuses on capability, the question becomes simple. What skills should you invest your time in?

 

Technical Skills Employers Are Hiring For

Many of the most in-demand roles share a common foundation. They rely on data and systems.

Key skills include data analytics, which helps you interpret results and support decisions; AI tools that reduce manual work and speed up execution; and software development, which allows you to build or improve systems.

These skills appear across finance, marketing, operations, and product teams. If you build even one of these well, you increase your value across multiple roles.

 

Applied AI Skills That Set You Apart

Knowing technical concepts is one thing. Applying AI in real tasks is what sets you apart.

Employers look for candidates who can:

• Use AI to streamline research and reporting processes.
• Structure prompts to get accurate outputs.
• Integrate AI into daily workflows.
• Support decision-making with AI insights.

For example, instead of manually summarising reports, you can use AI tools to generate drafts, then refine them with your own insights. This reduces time spent and improves the quality of results.

If you can show how AI improves your output, you become easier to hire.

Related Article: How to Use AI: Bridging the Skills Gap

 

Business and Hybrid Skills

Technical ability alone does not close the gap. Many roles now require a mix of skills.

You also need critical thinking, data-driven decision-making, and effective communication to work effectively across teams.

These skills help you stand out in roles where you work across functions. Knowing which skills matter is only part of the equation; you also need to understand why jobs themselves are changing.

 

How AI Is Changing Job Roles

AI is not removing jobs across the board. It is changing what those jobs involve. This is where many people get caught off guard.

 

Roles Now Combine Multiple Functions

You may apply for one role but end up handling tasks across different areas. A marketing executive might analyse data. A finance analyst might automate reports.

This shift creates hybrid roles. Job titles stay the same, but expectations expand. If you rely only on your core function, you fall behind.

 

Your Work Is Moving Up the Value Chain

AI handles repetitive tasks. That includes data cleaning, basic reporting, and content drafting.

This pushes your role towards:

• Interpreting outputs
• Making decisions
• Improving processes

You are expected to think faster and produce better results. Simply executing tasks is no longer enough.

 

New Career Paths Are Forming

Some roles did not exist a few years ago. Others are evolving quickly.

Examples include:

• AI trainers who improve model outputs
• Product roles that rely on data insights
• Analysts who work directly with AI tools

These roles do not follow traditional career paths. You need adaptable skills to move into them.

As job roles evolve and expectations expand, employers are becoming more precise in their assessment of candidates during hiring.

 

Are you ready for AI? 

Take our free Generative AI Quiz to see how it is impacting careers and hiring today!

 

 

What Employers Actually Look For Today

Employers are no longer guessing your ability based on your background. They want to see how you perform in practice.

How Employers Evaluate You in Practice

Hiring now relies more heavily on real-world scenarios. Instead of relying solely on interviews, employers often ask candidates to complete a short assignment or solve a business problem.

You might be asked to:

• analyse a dataset
• present your thinking
• explain your approach to a task

These exercises show how you think under real conditions, not just what you claim on your CV.

 

What Hiring Managers Pay Attention To

Employers look beyond the final answer. They want insight into how you arrived at an outcome.

They usually pay attention to:

• how you structure your thinking
• how you use tools, including AI
• how clearly you explain your decisions

Two candidates can reach a similar answer. The one who communicates their reasoning better usually stands out.

 

What Makes One Candidate Stand Out

The difference often comes down to evidence. 

• A weaker candidate tends to list tools or speak in broad terms. 
• A stronger candidate shows a real project, explains why they made certain choices, and points to a measurable result.

That result might be time saved, fewer manual steps, or higher-quality output. Employers trust examples they can follow.

Understanding how employers evaluate candidates is only useful if you can act on it, which leads to the next step: building these skills in practice.

 

How You Can Start Building These Skills

This is where many people get stuck. They know what to learn but are not sure how to begin building these skills.

Step 1: Choose a Clear Focus Area

Focus on learning one thing at a time.

You can start with:

• Data analytics, if you want to work with insights
• Generative AI, if you want to improve workflows
• Data science, if you want greater technical skills

A clear focus helps you build momentum faster.

 

Step 2: Learn Through Real Application

Reading alone is not enough. You need to apply what you learn. Start small. Work on simple projects and use real datasets or problems where possible.

For example, instead of just learning AI tools, try using them to:

• automate a repetitive task
• improve how you write or analyse information

This reflects how hiring works today. Employers focus on how you apply tools, not just whether you know them.

 

Step 3: Build Proof of Work

You need something to show. This can be a portfolio, a case study, or even a documented workflow.

Focus on:

• what problem did you solve
• what steps did you take
• what result did you achieve

This becomes your evidence during interviews.

 

Step 4: Learn in a Structured Way

Learning on your own can work, but it often leads to gaps. A structured approach keeps you focused on what employers actually expect. The Straits Times feature highlighted this clearly through Vertical Institute’s Generative AI instructor, Tan Kwan Hong: 

“Candidates who stand out are not necessarily the most technical, but those who can demonstrate how they use AI to think better, work faster and produce higher-quality outcomes.” 

That is why expert-led, hands-on training matters. At Vertical Institute, courses focus on practical application, so you build work you can show. All courses are AI-integrated, which keeps learning aligned with current industry expectations.

If you are deciding where to start, these paths align closely with current hiring trends:

• Generative AI, to learn how to apply AI tools in daily work
• Generative AI Workflow Automation Course, to automate processes and improve efficiency
• Data Analytics and Advanced Data Analytics, to work with data and generate insights
• Data Science and AI, to build deeper technical capability 

A structured path helps you focus on skills that are actually in demand.

 

Singapore’s hiring market is shifting towards a new standard.

Roles are changing, expectations are rising, and employers are becoming more selective. The gap is no longer about qualifications. It is about whether you can apply skills in real work and show results.

If you want to stay competitive, focus on building in-demand skills and applying them consistently.

You can start now. Take a focused approach, build practical projects, and create proof of your ability. Enroling in in-demand courses with hands-on learning helps you move faster and stay aligned with what employers expect.

The earlier you start, the sooner you position yourself for the opportunities that are already being created.