The wholesale trade (WST) sector in Singapore significantly contributes to the country's economy, involving the sale of goods to businesses and organisations across categories, ranging from commodities to industrial and consumer goods. Current job roles in the industry include sales representatives, procurement specialists, logistics coordinators, project coordinators, business development coordinators, warehouse managers, and supply chain analysts. However, the sector is expected to undergo significant changes in the coming years, driven by e-commerce, automation, and digitalisation trends. These changes will lead to a greater need for workers with skills in online marketing, data analysis, and customer service, while advancements in automation and robotics may change the nature of warehouse management and logistics. As a result, workers in the wholesale trade sector in Singapore will need to remain adaptable and flexible, developing skills in areas such as digitalisation, automation, and data analytics to stay competitive in the industry.

The wholesale trade sector in Singapore is undergoing significant disruption due to emerging trends in the industry. One notable trend is the growth of e-commerce, which is changing how businesses sell and distribute products. E-commerce is driving a shift towards smaller, more frequent shipments and a greater emphasis on speed and convenience. As a result, there is an increased demand for workers with skills in online marketing, data analysis, and customer service.

Another significant trend is the rise of technology adoption, especially in terms of automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. These technologies are expected to transform how warehouses and logistics operations are managed, with greater use of autonomous vehicles, drone technology, and robotic systems for tasks such as fast picking to handle more significant volumes of goods, and to support same-day and next-day delivery. While this trend can potentially reduce the need for manual labour in certain areas of the sector, it may also create new job roles in areas like supply chain management and sustainable sourcing.

A third trend is the growing importance of sustainability and environmental considerations. Consumers are increasingly demanding products that are produced sustainably and responsibly, and businesses in the wholesale trade sector will need to adapt to this changing consumer behaviour. This may involve developing more sustainable supply chains, reducing waste and emissions, and implementing new technologies to improve energy efficiency.

Lastly, digitalisation and data analytics are becoming increasingly important. Despite technologies like robotics process automation (RPA) already being adopted to resolve interconnected business challenges, businesses are using data analytic tools to better understand and optimise their operations, from forecasting demand to improving supply chain efficiency. As a result, there is likely to be an increased demand for workers with skills in data analysis and digital technologies.

Changes are a constant in the wholesale trade sector, as with any industry in Singapore. Businesses and workers in the sector will need to remain adaptable and flexible, developing new skills, including digital skills, and strategies to stay competitive in the face of these trends.

High Impact on WST Jobs

High-impact wholesale trade jobs refer to roles within the sector that undergo significant changes in scope and requirements, driven by technological advancements and evolving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) norms. These jobs entail a substantially new or modified job scope, necessitating the acquisition of new skills. Because they often involve strategic responsibilities, requiring strong cognitive capabilities, relationship building, and stakeholder communication, these jobs aim to leverage technology for increased efficiencies, reducing the need for human intervention.

High-impact WST job roles facing displacement or convergence:

Medium Impact on WST Jobs

Medium-impact jobs in the wholesale trade sector refer to job roles that experience some level of change or risk but not to the extent of high-impact jobs. These jobs may not have a significantly new or altered scope but can still be affected by emerging technology, economic volatility, or evolving ESG norms. This is because they are expected to benefit from technology-driven efficiencies, which may enable employees to focus on higher value-added tasks. Medium-impact jobs also typically involve a combination of strategic and operational responsibilities and require a moderate to high level of cognitive capabilities, relationship building, and communication with stakeholders.

Medium-impact WST job roles facing displacement or convergence:

As the wholesale trade sector in Singapore continues to evolve, we expect to see a range of emerging job opportunities reflecting the changing demands of the sector and the need for new skills and expertise to stay competitive. Some of the new jobs that will address business challenges include Sustainability Manager, Decision Support Analyst, Freight Operations Analyst and Inventory & Capacity Specialist.

The need for these emerging job opportunities in the wholesale trade sector is mostly driven by data analytics and the adoption of new technologies that drive automation. For instance, job roles such as Marketing Analytics Manager and Supply Chain Performance Manager require a combination of functional knowledge and proficiency in data analytics to assist organisations in making data-backed decisions promptly. The emergence of new operating models and the importance of having a strong digital presence are also creating job opportunities such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialists. Furthermore, given that there is a growing trend in the wholesale trade sector towards ESG considerations, there is bound to be an emergence of specialised job roles, such as ESG Leads, that require professionals who can help businesses develop more sustainable supply chains, reduce waste and emissions, and implement new technologies to improve energy efficiency.

In the new world of work, skills have become the new currency, and acquiring new and enhanced skills will be a necessary requirement for achieving success. Business demands will necessitate new expectations from employees without putting universal skills and critical core competencies backstage. In essence, the essentials to thrive in the wholesale trade sector in Singapore can be described as follows:

• Common wholesale trade skills: These include the ability to apply ESG trends and regulations, analyse data, and adopt new technologies.

• New & augmented technical skills: Technology and automation skills such as omnichannel strategy development, implementation, and trade automation via enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems; data skills such as advanced data analytics, data management, and security; business domain skills like counterparty risk management and customer relationship management (CRM) for improved stakeholder experience; and ESG-related skills such as carbon footprint management.

• Critical core skills: These are skills that enable transferability, specifically behavioural skills required to facilitate career mobility and employability, such as strong communication, emotional intelligence and time management, alongside a growth mindset and the willingness to upskill and reskill.

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 (career pathways, list of skills and competencies, critical work functions and key tasks), please refer to Skills Framework for Wholesale Trade.