Day: January 20, 2025

15 fastest-growing professions in S’pore, according to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2025

If you’re trying to seek a new role but cannot secure an interview, you’re not alone.

68% of professionals in Singapore intend to seek new job opportunities in 2025, exceeding the global average of 58%.

Yet, despite this widespread interest in career moves, 61% say that the job search has become tougher over the past year.

At the same time, half of hiring professionals are also struggling with a shortage of qualified candidates, with only 3.4% of applications fully meeting their criteria.

Nearly 80% say there’s a mismatch between the skills professionals have and what companies need, and their biggest challenges are finding candidates with the right soft and technical skills.

If you’re on the job hunt, don’t fret—LinkedIn recently released their annual Jobs On The Rise list on January 16, which reveals the top 15 fastest-growing roles in Singapore. 

For this list, LinkedIn ranked jobs in the Singapore market based on both job listings and members who said they held that job from the start of 2022 to end-July 2024.

Here’s a breakdown of these in-demand positions, along with the required key skills, to help guide your job search:

Fastest-growing jobs in Singapore

How to navigate the tough job market

Interestingly, two-thirds of the jobs on the latest list are new to the list, highlighting the fast-evolving employment landscape in Singapore.

To navigate the tough job market, Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn Career Expert, said that simply applying for more roles won’t be enough.

“Professionals need to shift their approach and be more strategic in applying for roles that match their skillset and look for ways to stand out.”

For example, you could start by taking courses and attending workshops and conferences to bolster your skillset. 

If you’re looking to switch careers into any other roles, you could also consider enrolling in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP), which supports mid-career individuals in acquiring industry-relevant skills to improve employability.

• Read other articles we’ve written about Singapore startups here.

Also Read: This Singaporean PR combined his love for Ragdolls and Chinese tea into a cat teahouse

Feature Image Credit: Unsplash

This Singaporean PR combined his love for Ragdolls and Chinese tea into a cat teahouse

Now, I’m not the biggest cat lover in the world, so when I came across a video review of CATEA on TikTok, I instantly thought, “It’s just another cat cafe. What’s the big deal?”

However, when I dug a little deeper, I realised that this wasn’t just any cafe—it was a Chinese teahouse with cats, and unlike other cat cafes, CATEA solely houses Ragdolls.

How did this concept even come about? I spoke to the “cat teahouse” owner to find out.

Out of the many cat breeds, why Ragdolls?

In an interview with Vulcan Post, Chen Jiade, the founder and owner of CATEA, introduced himself as a “passionate Ragdoll enthusiast” who had adopted many Ragdoll cats over the past few years before opening the teahouse.

“Ragdolls are known for their laid-back and friendly personalities, which is why I love them.” Jiade, also known as JD, added that, unlike independent or high-energy cat breeds, these cats enjoyed being cuddled, making them the ideal cats for an animal cafe setting.

Aside from his love for cats and other animals, the 35-year-old owner also holds a passion for hospitality. Before opening CATEA, JD worked in various fields, including the F&B industry, which allowed him to understand how to manage customer service and business operations.

He wanted to combine both of his passions, and this birthed the idea of a cat-friendly cafe. However, given that there are many known cat cafes in Singapore, JD, a permanent resident, needed to differentiate the business from the rest of the pack, leading him to lean into his Teochew heritage.

As a Chaozhou person who has been drinking tea almost every day since childhood, rather than just typical cat-friendly cáfe, I wanted to do something different—something that combined Chinese teas with the comfort of spending time with cats.

Chen Jiade (JD), 35, founder and owner of CATEA

And with that, the cat teahouse was born.

Tea + Cats = Cosy

JD shared that it took almost half a year before he could open CATEA in mid-2024, where finding the right location was the biggest obstacle. “Ideally, I wanted a space that was centrally located but still had a cosy, tranquil atmosphere.”

The renovations, which amounted to five figures and accounted for most of the business’s startup capital, also took longer than expected, as they had to allocate designated areas for the cats to relax and facilities to prepare their F&B offerings and customers to lounge in.

While I have been to a few pet cafes during family trips overseas, I have not been to a cat cafe (as I was not the biggest cat lover).

Before the interview, I made an incognito visit on a late Saturday afternoon with my close friend, Natalie, a cat owner and lover, to accompany me to my first cat cafe experience. At first glance, the cafe was bright, minimalistic, quiet, and had a “peaceful” vibe. We quickly sanitised our hands and settled down at a cosy corner near the shop’s entrance.

However, my eyes widened upon browsing their drink menu, as most were priced between S$16 and S$25. In hindsight, the prices are justified, given that CATEA does not charge entrance or hourly fees, which is commonly done at other pet cafes.

While Natalie got their fragrant jasmine tea, I went rogue and ordered their Yashi Duckshit Dan Cong tea, one of CATEA’s bestselling drinks. Contrary to its name, my drink was not “smelly” by any means—instead, it had a subtle floral scent and tasted light and clean.

According to JD, the teahouse sources its teas from China and local suppliers and focuses on offering “beginner-friendly” teas to suit the taste of younger Singaporeans. As a Chinese tea lover, this was a welcome change from the Western teas I was accustomed to at other pet cafes.

Although many of the cats were sleepy during our visit, they were docile and welcomed the many pets from us and other customers at the teahouse. Natalie added that the Ragdolls are friendlier than the cats she interacted with at other cat cafes in Singapore, and they felt calm throughout our time there.

While I would not return to CATEA too often (see slightly pricey drinks), I could see myself bringing other cat lovers to the teahouse for a new experience.

Continuing to stand out

Beyond the “overwhelmingly positive” response from the public, CATEA has seen consistent growth in customer visits and social media engagement. JD also claimed that the teahouse had received over 200 reservations last month alone.

Whether this popularity can be sustained long term, only time will tell, but JD is hopeful about his brand’s growth.

Looking forward, he wants to grow the business’s online presence and hopes to explore selling packs of tea leaves so his customers can enjoy them in the comfort of their homes.

JD also expressed his ambition to open new locations, locally and internationally, in the future. “We believe we will be able to break even within the first year,” he added.

• Learn more about CATEA here.
• Read more stories we have written on Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: How this S’porean grew his pet care retail biz to make 6-figure annual revenues in one year

Featured Image Credit: CATEA

She sold cakes at 18 despite family disapprovals. 10 yrs in, she owns a Shah Alam cake shop.

Entering college, Jayla decided she was grown enough to start making her own money. 

“I felt like I had officially become an adult,” she shared with Vulcan Post. “I didn’t want to keep asking my parents for pocket money, so I decided to find a part-time job and earn my own income.” 

However, both of Jayla’s parents, who were primary school teachers, were rather conservative and strict. As such, they didn’t allow their daughter to work outside.

So, Jayla asked herself, “What do I truly enjoy?” That’s when she realised how much she loved baking. 

She had always been passionate about desserts and baking growing up. Why not merge this passion with her desire to start making her own income? 

At the same time, she also noticed a business opportunity in the online world, which wasn’t as developed 10 years ago. 

“Very few people were selling food online back then, but I was driven by the motivation to rely on myself and not become a burden to my parents,” she said. 

So, in 2014 at the young age of 18, Jayla began selling cakes online, marking the start of Pasteljla. 

Hustling and bustling 

Today, Pasteljla has a bright and beautiful shop in Shah Alam to proudly call home. 

But the journey Jayla has taken to get here has not been easy. 

During her five years of university, she balanced studies with selling cakes online. She would attend classes in the morning and rush home after to bake and deliver cakes. 

“Back then, there were no delivery platforms, so I personally delivered every cake after baking,” she reminisced. “During that time, I barely had any time to sleep because I was always busy working.” 

But Jayla never imagined that it would eventually become her full-time business. At the time, her parents and people around her were against what she was doing. The internet wasn’t as developed, so the older generation couldn’t fathom what she was doing. 

“They often looked down on me and kept telling me to get a proper job after graduating and not hide at home baking cakes,” she recalled. “At that time, I was young and lacked confidence, so I silently accepted their opinions.”

Heeding their words, Jayla immediately stopped her online bakery after graduating. 

“Although I was reluctant, the pressure from all the criticism was too much, and I couldn’t handle it,” she said. “So, I obediently found a regular job, and Pasteljla was closed for over a year.”

But then, the pandemic hit. As a sales executive, Jayla couldn’t go out and her performance was severely impacted. 

Thus, she decided to quit her job, not worrying about what others might think, and focused on doing what she love—relaunching Pasteljla as her full-time business.

It turned out to be good timing, as Pasteljla gained significant popularity during the MCO period. 

“From then on, I worked from home, handling everything on my own, until the ninth year, when I finally opened a physical store,” Jayla proudly shared.

A brick-and-mortar expansion 

Known for its custom cakes, Pastelja has found stable footing as one of the purveyors of adorable Korean-esque designs. 

With growing demand, Jayla knew that she would eventually have to scale into a larger operation. 

“I knew I couldn’t do everything alone—the volume of orders had already exceeded my physical limits back then,” she said. 

“I was working late nights every day and still couldn’t keep up. It felt like such a waste because there were so many orders coming in, but I simply couldn’t accept them all due to my limitations.”

At the same time, she felt that there was a gap in the market. Many cakes offered were outdated in terms of design. She wanted to create a space where everyone could easily get trendy, Korean-style cakes for any occasion, even at the last minute.

Many modern cafes in Malaysia typically go for clean, minimalistic looks, but Jayla wanted to create something different. She wanted a colourful space, reflecting her own tastes.

To open this store, Jayla said to Vulcan Post that she spent nearly all of her savings of around RM200K. She bootstrapped entirely with her own funds without relying on anyone else, she added. 

She shared, “It’s now been over a year since the store opened, and I currently have a team of around eight to nine staff members.”

Jayla shared that she plans to open a second branch soon. At the same time, she hopes to expand into the F&B industry and open different types of ventures, not just cake shops. 

“Pasteljla won’t just be a small shop; this is only the beginning, and I’m determined to make it known to more people,” she said. 

“I also want to encourage all women that they can build their own careers and succeed on their own. The sense of independence from relying on yourself is truly empowering.”

A decade’s worth of lessons 

“Over the past 10 years, the changes have been significant,” Jayla shared. “I’ve poured my best 10 years of youth into Pasteljla, and during this time, I’ve grown from a young girl into the person I am today.” 

A big lesson she’s learnt along the way is the importance of customer service. There are many cake shops everywhere, but what sets you apart is how you make your customers feel. 

And of course, persistence and hard work are universally valuable qualities. 

“I’m grateful to be someone so stubborn—when I left the business for a year, I couldn’t stay away and eventually came back to what I love,” she shared. 

For those who might want to brave the cake scene, Jayla added, “This industry isn’t easy; it’s a labour-intensive job where you trade manual work for money. Compared to other industries, it’s definitely tough with no shortcuts.” 

However, at the end of the day, it’s a journey worth taking for Jayla. 

Having given up on her dreams once, Jayla wants others to know that if they have something they truly love, you shouldn’t let others’ words stop you. 

“It’s rare to discover something you’re passionate about, so when you do, give it your all,” she shared. “Always listen to your own voice, not others. Life is yours, and as long as you believe it’s the right path, go for it.” 

“Take risks while you’re young. If you fail, it’s okay to start over—after all, I’ve always had nothing to lose.”

• Learn more about Pasteljla here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Inside the exclusive programme for startups by Grab Malaysia, GXBank leaders & Endeavor Malaysia

Featured Image Credit: Pasteljla

“It was now or never”: This M’sian quit her stable corporate job to make candles full time

We’ve seen some innovative people do wondrous things with candles. From hyperrealistic ones imitating food like nasi lemak and fried chicken to ones carrying scents of tom yum and Tiger Balm, there’s a lot of room for creativity with candles. 

One candle business that might appear unassuming at first is Lemondrop Farm. Indeed, it seems to offer your run-of-the-mill candles, but there’s a layer of thoughtfulness behind this homegrown candle brand that makes it stand out. 

To me, it all comes down to storytelling. Lemondrop Farm does a good job of painting a narrative for each of its scents, such as its Tea series which is inspired by Chagee’s famous White Peach Oolong Tea. 

Even the packaging contains some easter eggs that helps to solidify the brand’s voice. 

As such, it comes as no surprise that the business was founded by someone with experience in the marketing world. 

A jack of all trades

The woman behind Lemondrop Farm is Chem Li San.

Born and bred in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Li San has lived multiple lives, starting off her career in finance before moving to marketing. 

An entrepreneurial-spirited woman, she also did a patisserie course with Le Cordon Bleu and ran her own cake business for two and a half years. 

However, she ended up shutting it down due to developing an egg allergy. With that unfortunate incident, she went back into the corporate world. 

In the post-pandemic days of 2022, though, she decided to brave the entrepreneurial world again. 

“I needed an outlet for my interest in pairing flavours and scents together,” Li San explained. “I started making candles for fun on my own, and to justify the cost, I started selling at markets.”

With sales looking encouraging from markets, she decided to take the scary leap to do it full time in August 2024.

A can-do attitude

Starting out with Lemondrop Farm, the idea was to branch out into other products that create joy and laughter for people. After all, the name is inspired by the saying “when life gives you lemons…” 

“But instead of making lemonade, here we make Lemondrop sweets,” Li San shared. “I wanted to create a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering high quality products at an accessible price. Hence our tongue-in-cheek candle names and labels.”

Creating her candles, Li San starts by thinking of a feeling she wants to evoke, from cosiness and warmth to powerful and seductive. 

From there, she identifies what olfactory notes are heavily linked to those feelings, and then stacks on the appropriate scents. 

“I tend to try to add many notes in order to create a more complex scent, but sometimes, just two scents  can make up something I’m happy with and that people are happy with,” she mused. “If that’s the case, I leave it at that and try not to overcomplicate things.”

If Li San’s lucky, she can create the scent she envisions in just two to three tries. If not, it can take up to 20 tries to get the right balance of scents. 

Fanning the flame

But despite her hard work, there’s no doubt that the candle market is very, very competitive. The barriers to entry are very low and people can dive in (and drop out) quickly. 

“To me it’s about trying to have a unique angle and to connect with people on a deeper level,” Li san shared. “My interest is in reaching people who appreciate the humour and aesthetic I appreciate.”

“As long as Lemondrop Farm stays relevant to the customer persona it’s made for, I feel it will have a competitive edge.”

To remain relevant, the founder aims to expand her product range to include room sprays and diffusers, as well as grow the wholesale part of the business. She also hopes to engage the community through candle classes.

In the long run, the founder hopes to open a retail space so that people can come and experience the brand in the flesh. 

“I’m manifesting a Lemondrop Farm shop in Taman Rasa Sayang or Taman Paramount in 2027,” she shared. 

Quitting corporate for entrepreneurship

Although it sounds like an easy decision to start a business, things aren’t always so clear cut. She had been working for reputable banks, so giving up that stable income must have involved a lot of thought. 

“I wouldn’t say that I am always confident—there are good days and bad days still, and there were good days and bad days even before I quit, doubting whether it was the right decision,” she said. 

“But ultimately, I felt like it was now or never, I got promoted at work to a level that I felt if I gave the business a shot and it failed, I would be comfortable coming back to the corporate world if need be.”

Every day can be a challenge, though. Even if you’ve prepared for it, looking at a depleting runway is always scary. However, Li San understands that you have to serve the time, keep your head down, and trust the process. 

“It’s a lot of juggling between logic and emotions, and it’s a different winner every day, or every hour even,” she said. 

For others who might be aspiring to quit their jobs and try out entrepreneurship, just be prepared to fail, and fail again. 

“Have a good support group around you,” Li San advised. “Make friends with people doing the same thing as you, the pie is big enough for everyone and these are the people who will understand your struggles the most.” 

• Learn more about Lemondrop Farm here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Inside the exclusive programme for startups by Grab Malaysia, GXBank leaders & Endeavor Malaysia

Featured Image Credit: Lemondrop Farm