The Built Environment (BE) sector in Singapore is a vital industry encompassing various disciplines involved in designing, constructing, and managing facilities and physical infrastructure. It plays a crucial role in shaping the urban landscape and supporting the nation's development. Current job roles within the BE sector include architects, civil and structural engineers, construction management project managers, quantity surveyors, and real estate/ facilities-related roles. However, the sector is poised for significant changes driven by evolving global and local trends, technological advances and prolonged manpower challenges. Innovations such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Singapore's Green Building Strategy Implementation, and sustainable construction methods driven by regulatory needs are expected to reshape job roles and requirements. For example, there will be a growing demand for professionals with a good awareness of Industry Transformation Map (ITM) skills and be skilled in BIM modelling, sustainable design, and energy-efficient technologies. Since the BE sector in Singapore is influenced by the government's commitment to sustainable development and smart city initiatives, it will undoubtedly further impact the skills and job opportunities within the sector. As the industry continues to evolve, the ability to keep pace with trends and embrace new technologies will be crucial for both individuals and organisations in the BE sector, in order to remain competitive and contribute to Singapore's sustainable urban development goals.

The Built Environment sector in Singapore is experiencing the influence of several significant megatrends and technological advancements. Amongst the five main megatrends (i.e. global shifts that change and impact the way the economy, business and people live and work) — COVID-19, Multi-Skilling, Sustainable Construction/Buildings, Value Chain Aggregation and Integration, and Workforce Challenges, COVID-19 has had a significant impact in the BE sector. The global pandemic has caused disruptions in both manpower and supply chains, resulting in project delays and increased costs due to resource scarcity. As the world recovers from COVID-19, there is a growing emphasis on digitalisation and remote working, with concerns around sustained productivity and work-life balance becoming more prominent.

Another important megatrend is the focus on multi-skilling within the sector. With the rise of digitalisation, professionals are increasingly required to possess cross-domain knowledge and diverse skills to remain relevant in their roles. This includes multi-skilling in areas such as digitalisation, finance and contract management, as well as adjacent functions within and outside the BE sector, such as sustainability. Acquiring these cross-functional skills is seen as a key priority to enhance employability and adapt to evolving job requirements.

Sustainability is another prominent megatrend shaping the BE sector. Singapore is committed to achieving sustainable development goals, and as a result, green building practices, renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and environmentally friendly construction materials are being widely adopted.

There are several technology trends playing a crucial role in the transformation of the BE sector in Singapore, impacting it in the short term.

One of these is Building Information Modelling - a transformative technology revolutionising the industry by enabling virtual models that simulate the entire life cycle of a building. BIM enhances collaboration, efficiency, and cost reduction in construction processes, and its integration provides insights for supply chain management and project installation, especially in managing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is another emerging technology trend making an impact in the BE sector. IoT devices and sensors integrated into buildings allow real-time data collection for better energy management, predictive maintenance, and improved occupant comfort and safety. This is complemented by Digital Twin building simulations, which are another one of the many technology trends in the BE sector. Building simulations using Digital Twin can assess energy demand, indoor environmental quality, carbon emissions, and payment periods of energy management systems throughout the lifespan of an asset. This serves as a comprehensive source of information for building managers, providing insights into the engineering and design aspects of buildings, and facility management (FM) professionals can leverage Digital Twin for automated progress monitoring and predictive maintenance, supporting efficient FM operations.

Some of the other technology trends include the use of Block-chain smart contracts for secure transactions, the integration of Robotics Process Automation and Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence to automate routine tasks, the use of Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality with Remote Monitoring technology for enhanced user experiences, and the incorporation of 5G and Smart Buildings capabilities to build digitally-enabled infrastructure. Other technology trends targeted at driving productivity improvements for Design and Construction (D&C) include 3D Printing, Innovating Building Materials, and Modular Construction.

To successfully adopt and embrace technology, companies must cultivate a forward-thinking mindset, which may necessitate financial investments and a willingness to embrace change at the senior management level. It is essential for industry stakeholders to foster stronger partnerships across the sector, fostering collaboration for economies of scale, technology adoption, and innovation. These partnerships should be established from the early Design phase and continue throughout the Operations and Maintenance phase. By working together, industry stakeholders can leverage shared resources, knowledge, and expertise to drive technological advancements, enhance efficiency, and achieve collective success in the rapidly evolving landscape of the BE sector in Singapore.

High Impact on BE Jobs

High-impact job roles within the Built Environment sector refer to positions that experience significant changes in scope and requirements driven by the influence of megatrends and technology trends. These job roles will undergo significant modifications, necessitating upskilling or reskilling to adapt to the evolving demands of the sector and maintain their employability.

High-impact BE job roles that require extensive job redesign:

• Assistant Quantity Surveyor/Assistant Cost Manager

Medium-Impact to BE Jobs

Medium-impact job roles within the Built Environment sector are characterised by a moderate degree of change and require moderate job redesign. These roles experience a small proportion of job tasks that will be augmented by technology and are moderately impacted by megatrends. As the job roles transform, individuals in medium-impact positions will need to take on additional duties beyond their initial expectations, requiring moderate upskilling or reskilling to meet the evolving demands of the sector.

Medium-impact BE job roles that require moderate redesign:

As the Built Environment sector in Singapore undergoes continuous transformation, it is anticipated that various job opportunities will emerge in response to evolving demands and the requirement for new skills and expertise to maintain competitiveness. These job roles fall under two main categories — Digital-related roles and Sustainability — adapting to the rapid move towards greater technology adoption and digitalisation, as well as the incorporation of sustainability concepts across functional tracks. Some of these emerging roles include positions such as Architectural Technologist, Climate-change Response Engineer, Solar Engineer, Facility Management Data Analyst, Sustainability Facility Manager, Robotic Engineer, Digital Systems Engineer, Computational Designer, Metadata Project Manager, Energy and Sustainability Solutions Architect, and Data Scientists/Engineer.

The estimated time horizon for these emerging job roles to appear in the BE functional tracks is between 2 to 5 years, depending on factors such as legislative pressure and client demands. It is important for existing BE professionals to undergo reskilling and continuous education to adapt to these roles. Some job roles may require a moderate level of reskilling, while others may necessitate a significant level of reskilling and may require the hiring of talent from outside the BE sector.

To stay relevant in the Built Environment sector, it is important to possess the relevant skills that align with the sector's changing demands and future needs. The sector must address its general resistance to training and foster a mindset shift, particularly among management roles, to recognise the value of upskilling talent. The adoption of the Skills Framework for Built Environment (SFw for BE) can also serve as a common standard of competency and capability. In essence, the essentials to thrive in the BE sector in Singapore can be described as follows:

• Digital Skills: Programming and coding skills are in high demand due to the increasing need for technology adoption. However, deep specialisation is not as crucial as the ability to quickly learn and utilise new technologies.




• Compliance Skills: Compliance skills, including Regulatory Submission and Clearance, as well as Project Risk Management, are highly sought-after in the sector. With evolving trends and technologies, there is a growing recognition of the importance of regulatory compliance and effective risk management. The sector anticipates potential complexities arising from technology adoption and changing operating models, further emphasising the need for these skills.




• Sustainability Skills: Sustainability skills, such as Environmental Sustainability Management and Sustainable Engineering, are experiencing rising demand. This is in direct response to the evolving trends in sustainable construction and buildings, as well as the increasing emphasis on meeting local regulatory requirements.




• Management Skills: Management skills, including People Management and Change Management, are becoming increasingly critical in the sector. As the industry undergoes transformation, these skill sets play a vital role in driving initiatives such as talent upskilling and reskilling, which are important resources for the sector. Moreover, management skills are instrumental in facilitating the adoption of technology through effective change and stakeholder management practices.




• Critical Core Skills: Critical core skills, such as Transdisciplinary Thinking and Communication, are highly sought after in the sector. These skills enable professionals to think critically and collaborate effectively with others, complementing their core technical expertise and fostering an agile and resilient workforce. Additionally, in the face of rapid technological advancements, skills like Digital Fluency have become more valuable than specialised skill sets. Digital Fluency drives the sector to remain relevant and encourages swift adoption and implementation of technology when necessary.




• ITM Skills: ITM Skills, a subset of skills within the Skills Framework, are essential clusters of skills that propel the transformation of the BE sector. These skills play a fundamental role in driving broader sector-wide transformation efforts and are aligned with the Industry Transformation Maps initiated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore.

The Skills Framework

The Skills Framework (SFw) is a SkillsFuture initiative, designed to promote skills mastery and lifelong learning for the Singapore workforce.

For more information on each job role (complete list of skills, critical work functions and key tasks), please refer to Skills Framework for Build Environment Sector.