The demand for AI jobs has been skyrocketing in recent times, with many flocking to get careers in the field.
This much seems to be true in Singapore, where the government is planning a S$1 billion investment to strengthen AI capabilities.
According to hiring and matching platform Indeed, searches for AI jobs on its site has increased by nearly 150% from March 2018 to March 2023, a July 11 press release announced.
However, are the talent and necessary skills really there to fulfil the AI jobs available in the market? Here’s what Indeed shared are the most in-demand skills in the field.
1. Machine Learning
Indeed’s data shows that 61% of generative AI jobs in Singapore mention “machine learning”.
Machine learning refers to the field in AI that deals with the development and study of statistical algorithms that can learn from data and generalise to unseen data and thus perform tasks without explicit instructions.
In simpler terms, it’s all about enabling AI to imitate the way that humans learn.
To upskill in this area, there are courses online on Coursera by companies like IBM and institutions like Stanford.
2. Proficiency in Python
The most popular progamming language sought after in the world of AI seems to be Python, with over half (54%) of the generative AI jobs asking for Python skills on Indeed.
For the uninitiated, Python is a general-purpose coding language that is built on the philosophy of code readability.
It’s considered a beginner-friendly programming language, with many platforms such as Codecademy and datacamp offering courses.
3. Expertise in PyTorch and C++
Proficiency in PyTorch is rather sought after too, appearing in 24% of job ads.
As NVIDIA put it, PyTorch is a fully featured framework for building deep learning models, which is a type of machine learning.
Its primary interface is on the Python language as well as something called the Torch library, an open-source machine learning library.
It can also be used with the C++ programming language, which is mentioned by 23% of job ads.
There are resources online such as PyTorch.org and learnpytorch.io that talk all about PyTorch.
4. Deep learning
19% of job listings on its site mentioned deep learning, Indeed reported.
Deep learning is rather similar to machine learning. Explaining the difference, Google Cloud states that machine learning is more explicitly used as a means to extract knowledge from data through simpler methods such as decision trees or linear regression.
Meanwhile, deep learning uses the more advanced methods found in artificial neural networks.
IBM has a page dedicated to sharing about the basics of deep learning. There’s also a website called DeepLearning.AI founded in 2017 that may be helpful, too.
Fluency in various programming languages
Just like with any languages, having fluency in many various programming languages will get you a leg up in the industry.
Indeed broke down the mentions of programming languages in AI job ads as such:
- Java: 18%
- C: 13%
- SQL: 12%
- Spark: 11%
- Linux: 10%
As Callam Pickering, Senior Economist at Indeed APAC, said, “As AI becomes crucial across industries, there’s a growing need for these skills. This data helps recruiters target specific skills and helps job seekers stay competitive.”
“Singaporean businesses are facing a shortage of talent, with intense competition driven by AI,” he added. “Recruiters need to prioritise hiring for AI skills to keep up with the demand and ensure they don’t fall behind in leveraging Singapore’s AI growth.”
Featured Image Credit: Patrick Amoy via Unsplash
