S’pore employers are moving towards skills-based hiring

The Ministry of Manpower released its 2025 jobs report on Mar 20, and the numbers tell a story that would have seemed improbable just a decade ago. 

Academic qualifications were not the main determinant in hiring for 79.6% of job vacancies last year, up from 78.8% in 2024 and 74.9% in 2023. The movement is slow enough to miss if you’re not looking, but steady enough to reshape who gets hired in Singapore.

Employers who have made the shift to skills-based hiring report faster recruitment, access to a broader talent pool, and improved employee performance.

Specifically, the change is taking hold in software development, data analytics, and AI-enabled roles across technology, finance, and engineering—the very positions where Singapore is concentrating its growth, and can see some of the highest pay.

A shift driven by tech giants

This movement did not begin with Singaporean startups going out of the ordinary to see beyond academic qualifications. It actually started with multinational corporations that had the data and scale to test what actually predicted job performance.  

Between 2017 and 2022, the share of Google job postings requiring a college degree dropped from 93% to 77%, according to analysis by the Burning Glass Institute. 

Google co-founder Sergey Brin noted in early 2026 that the company hires “tons of people who don’t have bachelor’s degrees.” They would rather employ individuals who “just figure things out on their own in some weird corner.” 

Google isn’t alone in this approach.

IBM built an apprenticeship program explicitly marketed with the tagline “No Degree? No Problem!” in 2017. It went even further and stripped bachelor’s degree requirements from half of its job openings in 2021.

Today, IBM’s share of United States hires without degrees approaches 20%. The company has proven that capability can precede credentials—and that the door opens wider when employers look at what candidates can do, not where they studied.

Firms in S’pore are starting to follow, particularly in the age of AI

Now, firms in Singapore across finance, logistics, and retail are starting to follow.

Beyond academic degrees, companies now look for curiosity, problem-solving, and the ability to learn. This is skills-based hiring—and it’s becoming the default, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence.

More companies are adopting AI into digital workflows, and the tech is rewriting what “entry-level” and “job-ready” mean.

A Sept 2025 report from Morgan Stanley predicts that AI could impact 90% of occupations to some extent. This shift means hiring teams must focus on candidates whose skills align with long-term company goals, many of which will increasingly involve AI.

Thus, what matters is not what someone learned five years ago, but their capacity to learn what is needed five years from now.

Singaporeans are increasingly embracing this mindset, with growing numbers tapping into lifelong learning initiatives like SkillsFuture to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market.

Over 606,000 Singaporeans tapped into SkillsFuture-supported training in 2025, up from 555,000 in 2024. Of these, 458,000 used their SkillsFuture Credits—a sharp increase from 260,000 the year before. 

Nearly 123,000 mid-career individuals specifically chose courses designed to boost employability, up from 112,000 in 2024. These are not hobbyists killing time, but workers betting that skills, not credentials, will be the currency of the next decade.

The results suggest they are not wrong. 73% of respondents to SkillsFuture surveys reported that training improved their work performance, up from 69% in 2024. Moreover, two in three respondents attributed career advancements directly to their courses. 

The door is still there, but it is no longer the only way in

It’s no longer about where you went to school. The pathway to hiring has become more flexible, as seen from how a portfolio can open doors that a transcript cannot.

But here comes the uncomfortable reality: Singapore’s education system and its labour market are running on slightly different timelines.

The system still sorts students by qualifications. The market increasingly sorts them by capabilities. The firms now following, in finance, logistics, and retail, are playing catch-up in a game where the rules are still being written.

But that doesn’t mean your degree is useless—it’s just insufficient, as nearly 80% of job vacancies don’t consider your educational qualification when hiring.

What you can do is starting to matter more than what you studied. The workers who understand this distinction—and who invest accordingly in skills that demonstrably transfer to the work itself—are the ones who will define the next decade of Singapore’s economy.

The door is still there, but it is no longer the only way in.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: ⁠GDP is growing—so why does it feel like there are “no jobs everywhere” in Singapore?

Featured Image Credit: iStock

To close out its 100th anniversary in appropriately over-the-top fashion, Bang & Olufsen has introduced the final two models in its five-part Beolab 90 Special Edition series: the Zenith and Monarch. They join the previously released Phantom, Mirage, and Titan variants, all built around the company’s flagship Beolab 90 loudspeaker, which remains in regular production. These aren’t incremental updates or lightly tweaked finishes.

They are ultra-limited, design-forward statements aimed at buyers who treat six-figure audio purchases the way most people treat a weekend Costco run. If you’re weighing one of these against a Bentley SUV and Porsche 911 Turbo on a random Monday and still have enough left over to feed an entire girls soccer team Chick-fil- A and imported herring, Bang & Olufsen knows exactly who you are and would like to have a word.  

Founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, the company didn’t just shape the look of modern audio gear—it built its reputation on turning serious engineering into functional art. A century later, Bang & Olufsen is marking the milestone the only way it knows how: by leaning harder into statement products that remind everyone why the brand still commands attention 100 years on.

The Original Beolab 90 

The original Beolab 90 landed in 2015 as Bang & Olufsen’s 90th anniversary statement, and it wasn’t subtle. It hit like a controlled detonation. I was there for the debut, and the reaction hasn’t changed since: this thing is a brute, but a smart one. The engineering is serious, the power is borderline absurd, and the design doesn’t ask for your attention—it takes it. You don’t forget hearing a Beolab 90. Not the first time, not the tenth.

Each speaker packs 8,200 watts of built-in amplification driving 18 Scan-Speak drivers, powered by 14 ICEpower amps and four additional Class D units. It’s a ridiculous amount of hardware, housed inside an angular, multi-faceted enclosure that sits on a curved wooden base. The whole thing looks less like a loudspeaker and more like something pulled from a modern architecture exhibit.

And it’s not just brute force. The Beolab 90 backs it up with real flexibility: extensive wired and wireless connectivity, including WiSA, plus a deep toolkit of calibration and room optimization technologies to shape how it performs in your space. This isn’t a flagship that leans on looks alone. It earns it.

Active Room Compensation: Adjusts for room acoustics, furniture placement, and speaker positioning to deliver a more precise soundstage with clearer spatial cues.

Beam Width Control: Lets you dial in how focused or wide the sound dispersion is, shifting from a tight sweet spot to broader room coverage for more relaxed listening.

Beam Direction Control: Enables selection of one of five acoustic “front” positions, allowing the system to redirect the primary listening focus based on your room layout.

Active Bass Linearization (ABL): Dynamically manages bass output relative to volume and available power, enhancing low-end presence at lower levels while protecting the drivers from overload.

Now that the fundamentals of the Beolab 90 are clear, Bang & Olufsen is marking both its 100th anniversary and the speaker’s 10-year milestone with five limited releases: the Beolab 90 Titan Edition, Phantom (Shadow), Mirage, and the new Monarch and Zenith editions, all developed through B&O’s Atelier program.

Beolab 90 Monarch Edition

The Beolab 90 Monarch Edition leans into textural sophistication and Danish furniture design heritage, but compared to its sibling, this is the “restrained” one—if anything in this price range can be called that. It’s still sculptural, still a little intimidating, but at least it doesn’t look like it’s about to wake up in the middle of the night and make a decision about your family or dog.

Wood in Motion: Angled and curved rosewood lamellas follow the contours of the aluminium cabinet, creating a 360-degree visual rhythm that nods to classic fabric covers while adding real texture and tactility.

Dynamic Knots: Six wooden knots connect the lamellas, with the front knot incorporating a subtle light-through-wood stripe that adds depth without screaming for attention.

Architectural Flow: A rosewood top ring frames the speaker, while the lower base panels continue the lamella pattern, tying the entire structure together in a cohesive, sculptural form.

Material Dialogue: The interplay between rosewood and ochre-coloured aluminium feels deliberate and balanced, blending natural warmth with precision engineering.

Textured Acoustics: Semi-transparent fabric sections reveal glimpses of the drivers beneath, reinforcing that this is still a serious piece of audio equipment—just dressed like high-end furniture instead of a sci-fi prop.

Beolab 90 Zenith Edition

The Beolab 90 Zenith Edition takes a very different path with less restraint, and more spectacle. It’s a study in textural precision and sculptural excess, the kind of design that makes you stop and wonder if it’s genius, madness, or both. We’re honestly torn. Is this Rick James with metal cornrows, or something a high priest would wear in Dune? Either way, subtlety didn’t get an invite.

Pearl Architecture: Six panels feature 289 anodized aluminium spheres each, arranged in seven pearl-inspired finishes that shimmer and shift with the light. It’s mesmerizing—and just a little confrontational.

Facemask Precision: The machined aluminium facemask is pearl blasted and anodized in dark grey, giving it an oyster shell vibe that feels both organic and slightly armored.

Top Lid Inlay: A circular mother-of-pearl inlay crowns the speaker, matching the sphere dimensions and adding a luminous focal point that draws your eye whether you want it to or not.

Sculptural Flow: Curved panels follow the cabinet’s contours, integrating the layered textures into the overall architectural form without completely taming the visual chaos.

Material Harmony: Polished aluminium elements and semi-transparent fabric attempt to balance the design, blending acoustic function with a tactile, almost ceremonial aesthetic that you’re either going to admire—or quietly question.

Specifications

Pro Tip: As of now, all Beolab 90 variants; including the Monarch, Zenith, Titan, Phantom (Shadow), and Mirage Editions, share the same internal architecture and specifications. If Bang & Olufsen indicates otherwise, we’ll update the chart accordingly.

The Bottom Line

Bang & Olufsen is not chasing volume here. The Monarch and Zenith editions exist to reinforce a point. The Beolab 90 remains one of the most technically ambitious loudspeakers ever built, and B&O can still wrap that engineering in designs that feel closer to gallery pieces than traditional hi-fi.

What is unique? The performance has not changed, and that is intentional. You still get the full Beolab 90 platform with 8,200 watts of amplification, beamforming, room compensation, and one of the most adaptable active speaker systems available. The premium is in the materials, finish, and exclusivity.

What is great is that B&O left the core alone. The Beolab 90 remains a reference level system that can adapt to real rooms in ways most speakers at this level cannot. What is not so great is the price and the design risk. These sit in the middle of the six figure range, and the Zenith in particular will divide opinion and raise some questions from your therapist.

Who are these for? Not anyone chasing value. These are for buyers who want top tier performance and a visual statement that makes everything else in the room feel ordinary. In the context of ultra high-end Danish audio, that price almost feels reasonable when you look at what Børresen is asking for its top models.

Pricing & Availability

Following the debut of the Phantom (Shadow) and Mirage Editions at Bang & Olufsen’s San Francisco Culture Store in December 2025, the Beolab 90 Monarch and Zenith Editions are set to make their first public appearance at the same location before heading out on a global tour. Prospective buyers will have a chance to see them up close and hear them in a more controlled setting than the usual trade show chaos. Only 10 pairs of each edition will be produced, which tells you everything you need to know about who these are really for.

Each pair includes a certificate of authenticity, and buyers will also receive a miniature aluminum Beolab 90 sculpture in the matching finish, packaged in a custom aluminum case. It’s equal parts accessory and reminder that you didn’t just buy speakers, you bought into the mythology.

U.S. pricing has not been officially confirmed, but estimates put both the Monarch and Zenith at around $520,000 per pair. In the UK, pricing is reported at £410,000, with EU pricing at €480,000 per pair. For context, the original Beolab 90 launched in 2015 at roughly $78,000, climbed to $135,000 in 2023, and now sits at $211,800 per pair in 2025. Inflation is one thing. This is something else entirely.

The Monarch and Zenith can be ordered from bang-olufsen.com.

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KitchenAid is giving its classic stand mixer a thoughtful refresh, as the new Artisan Plus adds three practical upgrades aimed at making everyday baking a little smoother.

At the top of the list is a built-in LED bowl light, which automatically switches on when the tilt-head is lowered. It’s a small but useful addition, as it allows you to keep an eye on texture or consistency without stopping mid-mix.

In addition, KitchenAid has introduced precision speed control and a soft-start function. The latter gradually ramps up mixing speed to avoid the all-too-familiar flour explosion. At the same time, the refined controls give you a bit more accuracy when working with delicate ingredients.

Those changes build on what’s already a well-established formula. The Artisan Plus keeps the familiar tilt-head design but adds a double-flex edge beater that scrapes the bowl as it mixes. It also comes with a secure-fit pouring shield and stainless steel accessories, although existing attachments still work here too. As a result, long-time KitchenAid users won’t need to start from scratch.

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There’s also a bit more flexibility in how you use it day to day. The mixer offers 11 speeds, including a new half-fold setting designed for gently combining lighter mixtures, preventing you from knocking the air out of them.

Design-wise, KitchenAid hasn’t strayed far from what made the mixer iconic in the first place. You’ll still get that classic silhouette, now paired with 15 colour options including exclusive finishes like a fetching Sun Dried Tomato, Wild Blueberry and Feather Pink.

It’s a relatively modest update on paper, but that’s arguably the point. Rather than reinventing the mixer, KitchenAid is refining it, adding small, genuinely useful features while keeping the core experience intact.

The Artisan Plus Stand Mixer is available now for $600. This positions it as the brand’s most premium take on a design that’s already stood the test of time.

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Geely, the Chinese automotive giant that owns Volvo, has just unveiled the Boyue EREV in China with a limited-time price of 107,900 Yuan, or roughly about $14,900. This price is worth noting, considering it’s not a stripped-down city car, but an extended-range SUV. It further highlights the value gulf between China and the US looks even wider.

This isn’t some tiny -range compromise either. Geely says the Boyue EREV offers up to 375 km of CLTC electric range and as much as 1,525 km of combined range, depending on the variant. It uses a 1.5 liter range extender, a 160kW electric motor, and either a 28.3 kWh or 50.4 kWh LFP battery pack. The larger battery also supports 3C fast charging, which claims to hit 80% charge from 30% in just about 15 minutes.

What else does it offer?

The Boyue EREV also doesn’t cut corners for the price, offering a 14.6-inch central display, an 8.8-inch instrument cluster, Flyme Auto, and support for both Carlink and Huawei HiCar. Keeping up with other high-tech Chinese EVs, you also get 50W wireless charging, an optional 16-speaker audio, an optional HUD, and L2-level driver assistance. It is also a real family SUV too, measuring 4,680mm long with a 2,778mm wheelbase.

Why this is such a big deal

The bigger story here is not just Geely’s new SUV. It is what this kind of product says about the market split. Reuters reported earlier this week on Geely’s broader importance to Volvo as the Swedish brand navigates a tough car market. It also underlines just how central the Chinese parent has become. And despite US buyers wanting to buy Chinese EVs, they remain largely shut out of this kind of value.

• EU reckons it could assert trust and authenticity by removing AI-generated content
• The bloc is also drafting a code of practice to protect citizens
• Blocking AI altogether might not be the best move, though

The European Union is reportedly considering a ban on AI-generated images and videos – otherwise known as deepfakes – in official communications.

According to new Politico reporting, with ongoing geopolitical tensions rising, elections running their courses and further public announcements, it’s believed the focus would be to protect trust in government messaging.