Secure a Bright Future With a Career in Advanced Manufacturing

Technology, robots and automation are revolutionising factories around the world. As assembly lines evolve and production demands rise, what advanced manufacturing companies need critically are skilled workers to manage cutting-edge machinery and technologies.

Exciting prospects await job seekers in this new era of smart manufacturing.

Newly-created jobs at the forefront of innovation utilise data analytics, industrial Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and much more. Stringent environmental and health regulations – supported by high-tech tools, like drones, wearable technologies and self-driving vehicles – are enhancing safety standards at manufacturing worksites. On top of these, industry job wages and benefits are rising, in line with valuable higher-level skillsets needed to perform modern manufacturing jobs.

According to a Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower October 2020 report, some 1,000 manufacturing companies in Singapore are offering more than 6,300 openings for jobs, attachments, traineeships and training positions. Of these, 80% target professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

Executive and managerial job opportunities extend across business functions, including quality control, engineering, systems management, sales, marketing, business development, human resources, finance, and administration. Median salaries range from $1,500 for a production clerk to $4,700 for an electronics engineer.

In-demand advanced manufacturing jobs include electronics engineers, manufacturing engineering professionals and technicians, production clerks and administrative professionals or associates.

The fastest-growing advanced manufacturing sectors also offer exciting occupations poised for the future of work. Examples of top biomedical science jobs include automation engineers, biotechnologists, microbiologists, cell and gene therapy production managers, chemists and quality assurance managers.

As manufacturing companies increasingly invest in on-the-job training for employees to develop core skills, such as analytical thinking, problem-solving and technical STEM competencies, qualified workers are well-positioned for career advancement opportunities.

Exciting Careers, Outstanding Prospects

As the fourth largest global exporter of high-tech goods, Singapore is continuing to invest in cutting-edge initiatives, in order to drive the creation of new advanced manufacturing job opportunities.

Capacity-building initiatives in the pipeline include, firstly, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy (AMTA) - a national programme office in Singapore to proactively identify emerging skills gaps and develop an effective training ecosystem to support workforce upgrading. Secondly, the Global Technology Innovation Village (GTiV) – a joint Asian Development Bank and Singapore Polytechnic platform – will encourage advanced manufacturing expertise-sharing and development amongst regional government and business leaders.

To complement these job-creation efforts, the SGUnited Jobs and Skills programmes play a critical role in equipping new generations of manufacturing workers with professional and technical expertise to take on specific executive- and management-level job roles. To date, SGUnited programmes have placed more than 730 job seekers, including mid-career professionals, in new manufacturing careers.

The SGUnited Skills Advanced Manufacturing Programme at SIM offers eight full-time six-month courses, focusing on Operations and Logistics, Corporate Services, Compliance, Research and Projects. To increase employment success, job seekers also have access to a 120-hour industry attachment programme, customised career coaching, skills assessments and employment assistance - involving corporates and recruitment partners - to match applicants’ interests and abilities with job openings.