SINGAPORE: Technology - it is one of the few sectors still hiring despite the COVID-19 economic fallout; it is what has enabled many employees to work from home amid the pandemic; it could also displace many jobs over the next few years.
According to the World Economic Forum in its latest Future of Jobs report released in October, half of the businesses surveyed plan to accelerate the automation of jobs in their companies.
Forty-three per cent indicated that they are set to reduce their workforce over the next few years due to technology integration, while 34 per cent said they plan to expand their workforce for the same reason.
"By 2025, the time spent on current tasks at work by humans and machines will be equal," said the WEF report.
Technology-based jobs populate the top 20 in a list of emerging jobs, from data analysts to robotics engineers. Those that are increasingly redundant include accountants, human resource specialists and relationship managers.
The report is based on a survey of senior management leaders from nearly 300 companies worldwide - including 29 with operations in Singapore. Data was collected between January and September this year.
Findings from the World Economic Forum's Future of Job's 2020 report on the top 20 emerging and declining jobs.
So in a future where technology dominates work processes, what do employment prospects look like for people who cannot tell the difference between Python and Java?
It is not necessary for most people to master coding or learn to build software, tech industry players and recruitment experts told CNA, although they noted that it is important to be able to use the latest technological tools that relate to an employee's job function.
Even in a technology firm, non-tech roles like public relations and product design executives will still be necessary in the future - and employees are required to have strong communication skills or a good eye, said Mr Alex Teo, the people experience and government relations lead at online cashback platform ShopBack. It has 150 employees in Singapore and about 500 in nine territories.
Even then, some basic level of coding or data analysis might be required of most of its employees going forward, he said. For example, his finance and marketing teams need to know programming language to enable them to pull out information about transactions or create email newsletters.
“So knowledge of those coding languages … I think going forward. That may be the expectation for (most people),” Mr Teo said.
Similarly, co-founder of digital wealth manager Stashaway Michele Ferrario said many roles in the company do not need technical know-how, such as those in marketing, compliance and client engagement.
Digital tools these departments use, like customer relationship management systems, have also become more user-friendly and intuitive over the years, he added.
Nonetheless, there are business development or strategy positions where data analysis is required and “being able to code will make you faster”, he said.
Stashaway currently has around 130 employees across five territories, with more than half of them in Singapore. Headcount is likely to increase to 200 plus or more than 300 in the next few years, Mr Ferrario said.
Rather than focus on becoming a computing expert, workers should put their energy into finding out how technology will affect their roles and learn to use the latest digital tools, industry players said.
“Tech jobs do not always mean coding or software development. There is a range of jobs in tech, such as product management, digital marketing, data analytics, user experience design (and more),” said Ms Aziza Sheerin, the Asia senior regional director of General Assembly, an educational organisation that runs classes in technology.
“What is important is for people to understand how to leverage tech in their roles now,” she said.
General Assembly's senior regional director of Asia Aziza Sheerin. (Photo: General Assembly)
“I think tech is an enabler, but it doesn't really mean that you have to be a hardcore technical person … the key message is the ability to adapt and change,” said Mr Eric Heung, a manager of supply chain and procurement at recruitment firm Robert Walters. He cited the example of marketing executives who were used to print advertising strategies having to now grasp the idea of social media campaigns.
“If they are not interested in tech, they should still think about how is technology going to change their function, what they're doing, or their industry,” he said.
Ms Feon Ang, LinkedIn’s Asia Pacific vice-president of talent and learning solutions, said the best way to future-proof yourself is to pick up both technical skills and “soft skills” - interpersonal skills related to traits like creativity and persuasiveness.
“Most jobs today require professionals today to possess basic digital skills and we know there will also be demand for professionals with deeper technical skills as businesses adapt to the changing environment,” she said, referring to how COVID-19 has led to a working environment heavily reliant on technology.
Data collected by LinkedIn from its users found that between June and August, software engineers were most in demand in Singapore, based on the proportion of hires with this job title. And among the top three most important skills was the ability to use coding languages JavaScript or Java.
To support such roles, Ms Ang said there will be a need for professionals who are able to conduct collaboration and manage teams across a digital space, which is where the “soft skills” come in.
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
Even before the pandemic hit, some in Singapore have jumped on the coding bandwagon.
Mr Koh Han Seng enrolled in SG Code Campus in March to learn how to use Python and is now in the next level of classes diving into data analytics.
Apart from using his programming expertise to invest in the stock market, the 52-year-old said he took up the courses as he plans to work as a business consultant. The potential new role, he believes, will require him to scrutinise and sort through data.
Ms Siti Herda Nuryani Nasir, a former customer service officer with Singapore Airlines, got herself into General Assembly’s software engineering course in March last year as a way of switching careers.
Like Mr Koh, Ms Nuryani said it was a steep learning curve, jumping into studying something so technical and completely new to her.
What helped to keep them going, they said, was the motivation to learn.
“I have always been interested in programming, (so) I enjoyed all the time I put into practising and learning more about it,” said Ms Nuryani, who is now a junior software engineer at start-up Online Pajak. “I think being able to enjoy what you are going to do most of your time is also really important.”
Previously a customer service officer with Singapore Airlines, Siti Herda Nuryani Nasir is now a junior software engineer at start-up Online Pajak. (Photo: Siti Herda Nuryani Nasir)
Representatives from the schools said it is possible for anyone to become a coder or software developer.
Although having a science, engineering or mathematics background does give students a leg up in the classroom, General Assembly’s Ms Sheerin pointed out that she has seen students from non-technical backgrounds graduate and find a job after that.
One of them was a cabin crew member who studied software engineering and is now a developer at a bank; another moved from being an architect to a user experience designer.
Founder of SG Code Campus Ian Choo agreed that while being more math or science-inclined is helpful in some areas of technology, like machine learning or data science, the outcomes of its three-month boot camps in other aspects like mobile or Web programming is proof that it is possible for anyone to make the switch.
A class conducted by SG Code Campus in February this year. (Photo: SG Code Campus)
“Both competency and interest can definitely be nurtured,” said Ms Sheerin. What her five years at General Assembly have shown is that students need to have enough motivation to see through their training long enough to gain competency, she added.
There is no “cookie-cutter approach” to developing an interest in technology, but taking a broader view of hobbies helps, she said, noting that some people who were very much into playing video games decided they want to build games themselves, while others who were active in community service wanted to figure out how to apply technology to their work.
“I see interest as (something that can be developed) because it’s something that’s within the control of the instructor,” said Mr Choo. “I think it really boils down to - are you convinced that it is useful. And then if you are convinced that it is useful, is it worth your time? And in the process of learning it, do you find it fun?”
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그래픽카드 구하기가 이렇게 힘들 줄이야. 자연스레 AMD로 눈이 가게 된다. 원래라면 가성비 빼고는 장점을 찾기 어려운 회사였으나 이번만큼은 진짜 다르다. 이게 AMD 그래픽카드가 맞는지 의심이 들 정도다. RTX 30시리즈말고도 선택지가 생길 줄은 상상도 못했다.
올해도 엔비디아 CEO 젠슨 황의 승리가 예상됐다. 안정적인 4K 성능에 파격적인 가격을 선보인 RTX 30시리즈를 AMD가 이길 리 없다. 그런데 10월 29일 AMD 발표에서 상황이 역전됐다. 두 회사 플래그십 그래픽카드 가격 차가 약 57만 원(500달러), 예상도 못한 가격에 엔비디아가 크게 한 방 맞은 셈이다.
10월 29일 발표에서 RX 6900 XT를 소개한 리사 수 AMD CEO
# ‘깡성능’ 이제 붙어볼 만하다
이날 발표에서 AMD는 총 3개 그래픽카드(RX 6800, RX 6800 XT, RX 6900 XT)를 선보였다. 플래그십 모델 6900 XT는 RTX 3090과, RX 6800 XT는 RTX 3080과, RX 6800은 RTX 3070과 맞붙게 됐다.
세 그래픽카드 모두 엔비디아와 하드웨어 성능으로 붙어볼 만해졌다. 최신 게임 10개를 4K 해상도, 최상급 그래픽으로 측정한 AMD 자체 테스트 결과, ‘깡성능’으로 불리는 단순 비교에서 두 회사 그래픽카드는 대등한 성능을 보였다.
장족의 발전이다. AMD 이전 모델 라데온 5000시리즈는 지포스 20시리즈와 힘겨운 싸움을 펼쳤다. 주력 모델이 2080Ti는커녕 2080조차도 아닌 중급형 모델 2070과 경쟁해야 했다. AMD는 이번 차세대 제품에서 RTX 3090과 동급성능을 출시할 수 있음을 증명했다. 지금은 동등한 수준이지만 향후에는 엔비디아를 뛰어넘을 수 있을지 모른다.
N당 플래그십과 맞먹는 성능을 보일 줄은 상상도 못했다.
개선은 ‘깡성능’에만 멈추지 않았다. 차세대의 전력 효율이 대폭 증가했다. AMD 이전 모델인 5000시리즈와 비교하면 와트당 1.54배 성능 개선이다. RX 6000시리즈는 소비전력이 250~300W에 그치는데, 이는 지포스 30시리즈의 320~350W보다 훨씬 높은 전력 효율이다.
비디오 메모리 용량도 경쟁사를 앞선다. RTX 3070과 3080은 각각 8GB와 10GB를 탑재했다. 반면 라데온 6000시리즈는 16GB가 기본이다. 고해상도 게임 환경에서 더 안정적인 성능이 기대된다.
# '가격 대비 성능'도 잡아냈다
결정타는 가격이다. 라데온 6900 XT 권장소비자가격은 약 113만 원(999달러), 지포스 RTX 3090은 약 170만 원(1,499달러)이다.
두 회사 플래그십 기준으로 AMD가 약 57만 원(500달러) 저렴하다. 하드웨어 성능도 동일한데 가격은 훨씬 저렴하다. RTX 3090의 ‘어중간한 입지’를 위협하는 가격이다.
지포스 RTX 3090 최대 단점은 가격 대비 어중간한 성능 향상이다. IT매체 ‘퀘이사존’이 진행한 4K 환경 게임 벤치마크에서, RTX 3090은 RTX 3080대비 17.2%p, FHD 환경에서는 7.3%p 차이를 보였다.
반면 두 그래픽카드 권장소비자가격은 약 90만 원(800달러) 차이 난다. RTX 3080으로도 그래픽 설정을 타협해 4K 게이밍을 무리 없이 즐길 수 있다. RTX 3090에 “그만큼 가격을 투자할 이유가 있냐?”는 꼬리표가 붙는 이유다.
# “아직 모른다. 설레발은 금물”
일각에서는 ‘설레발’이라는 주장도 있다. AMD 제품은 제조사 벤치마크로 평할 수 없고 실 사용기를 봐야 한다는 주장이다.
특히 AMD 그래픽카드는 언제나 드라이버가 발목을 잡아 왔다. 대표적으로 AMD 5000시리즈가 있다. 괜찮은 가성비를 지닌 그래픽카드 시리즈였으나 하드웨어 결함과 드라이버 문제로 오히려 브랜드에 부정적인 평을 남겼다. 점유율 확대와 인식 변화를 위해 드라이버 개선이 시급하다.
레이트레이싱도 고려해야 한다. AMD 6000시리즈에는 RDNA2 마이크로아키텍처가 사용된다. IT 전문가들은 RDNA2의 레이트레이싱 성능을 엔비디아 20시리즈 수준으로 여기고 있다. 또한 레이트레이싱 기술을 제대로 활용하기 위해선 엔비디아가 지닌 DLSS 같은 기술이 필요한데, AMD가 지닌 RIS 기술은 DLSS급 성능에 미치지 못하고 있다. 레이트레이싱 기술은 엔비디아와 비교하기 시기상조인 이유다.
6900 XT 실성능이 변할 여지도 있다. AMD가 발표한 6900 XT 벤치마크는 ‘최상의 상황’을 가정한 결과다. 실제로 발표에 사용된 슬라이드에는 ‘레이지 모드’와 ‘스마트 액세스 메모리’를 적용했다고 표기했다. 레이지 모드는 자동 오버클록 기능을 말한다. 스마트 액세스 메모리는 AMD 신형 메인보드 와 조합 시 더 효율적으로 그래픽카드를 쓰게 하는 기능이다.
두 기능은 그래픽카드 성능에 적지 않은 영향을 준다. 레이지 모드를 통해 약 3%, 스마트 액세스 메모리로 평균 6.6% 성능 개선을 기대할 수 있다. 즉, AMD가 테스트에 사용한 PC와 사양이 일치하지 않으면 몇몇 기능을 쓸 수 없고, 실제 성능은 10% 정도 더 낮게 나올 수 있다.
