Soft skills, core competencies and generic competencies are exchangeable terminologies often used to represent a similar concept. In the Singapore context, such skills are currently being referred to as Critical Core Skills (CCS).Though CCS is of high importance for the development of workforce’s employability, there is little attention paid to the CCS profiling and development across occupations. A better understanding of how CCS are distributed across the economy, and the potential best practices regarding their development among adults, will thus significantly enhance SSG’s career guidance services as well as training providers’ services to graduates and workers, and guide organizations in their hiring for soft skills. Drawing on the survey results from 2000 participants, this study managed to profile them into seven occupation groups based on the different patterns of importance and confidence levels of the use of CCS. In the meantime, the most effective development modes for CCS in each occupation group were also identified through semi-structured interviews of selected participants. The results have significant implications for different stakeholders, i.e., employers, training providers, individuals, and policy makers. For example, training providers will need to raise their awareness of the need to design CCS training programs and materials in a more targeted and authentic way to better meet the individual needs and job requirements.

Authors:
Xiao Fang Bi, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
Bao Zhen Tan, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Xiao Fang Bi is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences in Singapore

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