Recent statistics show an increase in engineering graduates, however companies are still finding it hard to fill vacancies. Channel NewsAsia's Nicole Tan looks into what is causing the manpower crunch.
Engineering forms the backbone of the Republic’s economy, with about close to half of the economy relying on input from engineers. While there have been more engineering graduates in the last decade, companies are finding it hard to fill engineering vacancies.
Observers have said engineering students like Teo Wei Jie are among the growing number of engineering students who plan to have careers outside the discipline.
As a child, he said he would take his toys apart to see how they work or how they could even be redesigned. Taking his fascination to the next level, he is now an engineering science student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
His final-year project, done at the National University of Singapore (NUS), was recently showcased at the Singapore International Energy Week, along with several student projects.
He says he plans to further his studies in this field and beyond that, start his own technology company.
"For me, being an engineer is all about learning the theory in school, and then using the theory and mixing it with some of your creativity to churn up a new invention,” he said. ”I've also an interest in business, so I'd like to mix these two together, and start a technology company."
MORE GRADUATES, BUT MORE VACANCIES
According to latest data from the Singapore Yearbook of Manpower Statistics, there has been an increase in the number of engineering graduates in the last decade. The pool was supplemented by pioneer batches of students graduating from Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Technology and Design.
Yet, companies are finding it hard to fill engineering vacancies.
According to Ministry of Manpower 2014 Job Vacancies Report, latest data shows that of the top 10 professional jobs with the highest number of vacancies, half of them were engineering related, including civil engineer, mechanical engineer, electronics engineer, industrial & production engineer and electrical engineer.
For three of these roles - mechanical engineer, electronics engineer and electrical engineer - about three-quarters of the vacancies were hard to be filled by locals.
Observers say one of the main reasons for the disconnect is the perception that the work is rigorous and mundane.
Said Mr Chong Kee Sen, president of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore: "It's actually the initial journey that is difficult, challenging and appears to be a lot of effort - to have to put in the first three to five years, to strengthen the technical and engineering know how. So that part would be one of the reasons why if they see it at that level, then probably they feel it's a very significantly difficult journey for them."
INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED ROLE
However, industry experts have said the role of the engineer has, in fact, become increasingly sophisticated.
"The whole question of what the engineers to do is much more sophisticated,” said Chairman of Surbana Jurong Liew Mun Leong. “But having said that, much more importantly, engineers now have to learn more about project management, about taking leadership role in the projects, rather than just pure technical skills.
“So I've grown from being an engineer to becoming a project manager. And from there I can leapfrog to a more senior management position. So that's a trend - I think - that engineers have to be facing: Larger projects, more sophisticated.”
Urbanisation consultancy Surbana Jurong is the top employer of engineers in Singapore, with about 1,000 engineers on its payroll. It has formed a committee made up of senior management personnel to look into ways of motivating its engineers.
Having top notch engineers is key to ensuring it can propose optimum solutions to its clients, and compete with big international players in the global arena, said the firm. To help its engineers in their work, Surbana Jurong said it provides them with the latest technology and software.
The firm also challenges its engineers to take on big projects.
"First we expose them, and show them the complicated or iconic projects and let them have a feel of it,” said Mr Wong Heang Fine, group CEO of Surbana Jurong. “So we've begun a series of visitations to see some of the major projects around the world. That will arouse their interest, and at the same time drive their desire to be part of the team that's involved in this type of project.
“We're also undertaking more and more complicated projects as engineers. We're driven by the ability to work on complicated projects. So the ability to have some of these projects is important for us to nurture our engineers."
ADAPTED DEGREES
To meet the evolving demands of engineering, universities have adapted their programmes.
Back in 1995, NUS only had four engineering courses, but by 2005, it had nine - most of which it still offers today. For Nanyang Technological University (NTU), two decades ago, it had just three engineering courses, and now, it has 13. That's not even counting the option to do double degrees.
NTU also has what it calls a Renaissance Engineering Programme, which uses a multidisciplinary approach to train engineers. It takes in 50 students each year and the programme incorporates elements of business, liberal arts, and entrepreneurship and a year abroad for exposure overseas.
"Previously, engineers were seen as involving in manufacturing, not the entire chain,” said director of the programme, Mr Teoh Swee Hin. “Now, from design, all the way to meeting the people in terms of sales and marketing from the science of engineering to business aspect. That is one of the things we have to define from the beginning in education to meeting the people in the street, in terms of consumers."
BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY
It is said that engineering forms the "backbone of the economy". It is estimated that close to half of the economy relies on input from engineers in sectors including manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and storage.
"Even the finance industries or insurance industries, or even medical industry, accountancy also require a lot of support from the engineers in terms of operations, maintaining all their information technology system, and the workings of it will also depend on the work of engineers," said Mr Chong.
For the engineering graduate, there are plenty of career options to choose from. However, what may prompt them to look elsewhere is the salary.
The latest statistics from the 2015 Hays Asia Salary Guide showed that engineering graduates earn less than their counterparts in banking, finance and IT. Recruitment experts attributed this to relatively tight profit margins for companies in the engineering sector.
According to recruitment firm Hays, within the oil and gas sector in Singapore, for instance, more than six in 10 employees are expats - 58 per cent more than the global average. Firms are also offering bigger bonuses to attract and retain staff.
"I think if you look again at the oil and gas sector, we surveyed how many people are now receiving benefits and Singapore is number 1 across Asia with over 73 per cent receiving benefits,” said Mr Mike Wilkshire, business director for recruiting experts in oil and gas for Hays. “This is seen by most companies as a prime means to attract and retain staff. And we've seen bonuses as a very large component of that, I think where the engineering sector might struggle to offer higher basics, bonuses is seen as a very attractive option to attract and retain staff because it's based on performance, so you’re rewarding people while not affecting the bottomline."
However, industry experts said that solving the talent crunch is not just about paying engineers more. Engineering graduates have to bring value-add to their roles to justify a higher pay.
- CNA/ek
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