Globally, the Care Economy is one of the fastest expanding economic sectors, contributing significantly to employment and economic growth. According to a recent report¹, almost 40% of job openings in emerging professions will be in the Care Economy by 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to this trend and accelerated the need for a stronger care ecosystem.

In Singapore, the Care Economy continues to grow in importance as organisations deal with challenges brought about by the Great Resignation, talent shortages and greater focus on mental well-being.

Professionals in the Care Economy will require skills in Professional Conduct and Ethics to uphold high standards of ethical conduct, Stakeholder Management for professional advisement and unprejudiced consultations to help care recipients make well-informed decisions, and Inclusive Practices for the good of all care recipients regardless of diversity in backgrounds and needs. These skills are required by at least two-thirds of job roles in the Care Economy and are transferable across sectors ranging from Healthcare, Community Care and Social Service, to Early Childhood and Training and Adult Education².

Digital skills are also fast-emerging in the Care Economy with a focus on tech-lite roles to develop predictive insights, track efficacy and enhance patient outreach. Technological advancements will result in more accurate diagnoses and interventions, and more targeted care plans. There will also be more holistic and inclusive care provision through community partnerships and collaborations across different disciplines.

More emphasis is now being placed on workplace learning and continuous education. As a result, there is a demand for roles in Training and Adult Education (TAE) and Education Technologies (EdTech). The top skills in demand for these roles include Learning Solution Design, Technology-Enabled Learning Delivery and Curriculum Design. Other related fast-growing skills include User Experience Design and Agile Software Development³.

In addition to facilitating learning and delivering content, TAE professionals will need to develop in their roles to become learning and performance specialists as coaching and mentoring grow in importance to support workplace requirements.

If you are passionate about helping people and making a difference in their lives, working in the Care Economy can be one of the most rewarding choices in your career. There are many opportunities NTU graduates can venture into, such as data analytics, health informatics, learning and development, user experience design, and curriculum design to make an impact for the community.