2019 is the breakout year for talent development. As the modern workplace evolves, there is an imminent shift in the power, focus, and influence of professionals with learning and development (L&D) responsibilities. 

Foundational efforts like soft skills and manager training, as well as scaling learning globally will remain important in 2019, but they will no longer take up the majority of a talent developer’s time. 

The latest LinkedIn's Future of Skills 2019 Report suggests that two in three Singapore professionals feel daunted by the pace of change in their respective industries. Only 17 per cent are happy with their company’s L&D offerings and more than two in five have left a firm that didn’t deliver on this front.

Respondents shared (57 per cent) is the most significant barrier to L&D activities at work. Although cost, accessibility, access to resources and general level of interest in the content also play a significant role.

The report highlights that both the employees (62 per cent) and L&D professionals (54 per cent) in Singapore see soft skills as crucial in determining career progression - particularly so in a technology dominated world where ‘unique human talent’ such as creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving will play an even more dynamic role.

The top three rising skills on LinkedIn are blockchain, workflow automation and human-centred design, and they feature more prominently in Singapore than in other Asia-Pacific countries. 

LinkedIn's Vice President of Talent and Learning Solutions, Asia Pacific,  Feon Ang, said “Organisations need to embrace a culture of learning to remain resilient amidst a rapidly changing workforce.”  

LinkedIn's report surveyed 4,136 employees and 844 L&D professionals across Australia, India, Japan and Singapore, and identifies the top 10 rising skills of LinkedIn members in the region over the last five years by looking at the skills listed by members with the highest month-on-month growth.