SINGAPORE: In Parliament on Wednesday (22 Nov), Minister of Manpower and Second Minister of Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said that according to the annual graduate employment survey, an impressive 90 per cent of graduates secured jobs within six months of graduation last year. 80 per cent of them secured full-time employment, a rate comparable to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Addressing concerns raised by Members of Parliament, Dr Tan emphasized the persistent strength in labour market demand for graduates from universities, polytechnics, and technical education institutes. Despite a downward trend in job vacancies nationwide, approximately 88,000 positions awaited suitable candidates as of June this year. The overall job vacancy-to-unemployment ratio stood at a promising 1.94.
The government has rolled out several initiatives to support fresh graduates in navigating the job market. These include employment counselling, work-study programs, and career-matching programs.
Dr Tan highlighted the collaborative efforts between government agencies, industry partners, and labour organizations to facilitate graduates’ entry into key fields with competitive starting salaries and meaningful career trajectories.
Acknowledging ongoing economic uncertainties, Dr Tan noted a weakness in recruitment during the current year’s third quarter, leading to a decline in job openings. However, he expressed optimism, anticipating an improvement in the job market in the coming quarters.
He promised that the government would pay close attention as the situation evolves.