Staff mobility, looking beyond qualifications key in tackling hiring challenges: Panellists

To address hiring challenges, employers should help employees transition to new roles that match their aspirations, said Ms Dilys Boey, chief executive of Workforce Singapore, at the Skills Future Forum on July 9.

- Gabrielle Chan

"When dealing with an employee who has been in the same position for the last 20 or 30 years, it's difficult to move them to a new job," she said. "It's essential to provide support for internal mobility to help them achieve their goals."

Ms Boey said that currently, there are four issues plaguing the hiring space: structural mismatch of skills and expectations, an ageing workforce, longer work span and Singapore's small size.

She was one of four panellists at the SkillsFuture Forum, which was launched by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, and also attended by Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang.

The other panellists were Ms Gloria Arlini, chief operating officer (country lead) of non-profit Generation Singapore, Mr Lim Minhan, head of consulting at cyber-security firm Ensign InfoSecurity, and Mr Jedrick Tan, chief executive of Fei Siong FastFood. The discussion was moderated by Ms Lee Su Shyan, associate editor at The Business Times.