Author Information
Xiao Fang Bi, Singapore University of Social Sciences, SingaporeXinyao Yu, SkiilsFuture Singapore, Singapore
Baozhen Tan, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
Jazreel Tan, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
Yingwen Huang, SkillsFuture Singapore, Singapore
Xiaowen Lin, Skillsfuture Singapore, Singapore
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive review of Singapore’s Critical Core Skills (CCS) framework, a national standard established in 2020 to equip the workforce with essential transferable skills for employability and career mobility. As the nature of work transforms, a static framework risks obsolescence. This study aimed to evaluate the continued relevance of the 16 CCS, identify needs for substantive updates, and explore the integration of emerging competencies such as mental wellbeing and career health. The methodology included eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with 55 employees and 16 management representatives from 21 companies across eight key industry sectors, supplemented by quantitative ranking surveys and a review of secondary data from national and international sources. Our findings confirm the continued relevance of all 16 CCS, with participants advising against the removal of any skill. However, the research identified significant thematic overlaps and redundancies, leading to a primary recommendation to streamline the framework by merging four pairs of complementary skills. This consolidation would create a more intuitive and efficient 12-skill framework. Furthermore, the study proposes specific, nuanced content revisions for eight other skills to enhance their clarity, modernise their language, and improve their practical application. The research concludes that concepts of mental wellbeing and career health are effectively embedded as outcomes within existing skills like Self-Management and Learning Agility, rather than requiring the creation of new, distinct competencies. This paper provides an evidence-based roadmap for the strategic evolution of a national skills framework, ensuring its dynamic alignment with contemporary and future workplace demands.
Paper Information
Conference: PCAH2025Stream: Teaching and Learning
This paper is part of the PCAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Bi X., Yu X., Tan B., Tan J., Huang Y., & Lin X. (2025) Evolving Critical Core Skills Needs in the Singaporean Workforce: A Mixed-Methods Review for a Future-Ready Framework ISSN: 2758-0970 The Paris Conference on Arts & Humanities 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 187-200) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0970.2025.16
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0970.2025.16
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