'Keep an open mind': Economy taskforce calls on new grads and jobseekers to consider all opportunities

CNA

10-07-2025

SINGAPORE: Fresh graduates may be anxious about entering the workforce given the uncertain economic outlook ahead, but they should keep an open mind and consider all opportunities, members of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT) said on Thursday (Jul 10).
SERT was set up in April to help businesses and workers deal with the impact of tariffs imposed by the United States.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said: "We have heard, for instance, about these fresh graduates who may face anxieties starting their careers in these turbulent times.
"We understand their anxieties, but we want them to be assured that there is support available."
Singapore's Institutes of Higher Learning have also stepped up their support, while Workforce Singapore has introduced a career guidance service to connect younger workers with industry experts.
"At the same time, I would really appeal to graduates and parents to stay calm," said Dr Tan, adding that he sees some "silver lining" in employment data.
Employment rates as at June 2025 were 51.9 per cent, compared with 47.9 per cent in June 2024, based on a preliminary Ministry of Manpower study, he said.
That means that as of June, the employment rates of the graduating cohort of 2025 are comparable and even slightly higher when measured against last year's statistics.
"But the caveat, like I said, these are early days, because you're only looking at a very small snapshot," he said.
Dr Tan also said vacancies for entry-level jobs remain steady. In the public sector alone, there are 2,400 immediate vacancies suitable for fresh graduates, including roles such as engineers and software developers, he said.
The government will organise a public service career fair in August, he added.
"To our 2025 graduates, it is still early in your job search. We encourage everyone to keep an open mind to different opportunities in their job searches," said Dr Tan.
He urged companies to think about nurturing future leaders and invest in young workers.
"While I think there will be some uncertainty ahead, I should emphasise that currently, we're not in a crisis, nor are we in a recession," he said, noting that the labour market has generally remained resilient, with more vacancies than seekers.
In May and April, the proportion of firms with an intention to hire or raise wages in the next three months also rose slightly compared with the pre-tariffs period, he added.
Besides expanding access to career guidance services for workers, the government will temporarily enhance funding support for basic human resources certification for companies.
"Strong HR leadership is critical to help employers manage and support their workforce amidst the volatile environment," said Dr Tan, adding that more details will be shared in future.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said employment and unemployment numbers are still very well maintained, but there is an understanding that there may be "a certain conservatism" about hiring for now because of the uncertainty.
She said union leaders gave feedback that a flexible attitude is an important attribute for job seekers to have, whether they are fresh graduates or already part of the workforce.
There may be concern about the outlook and whether it will worsen, but there are still opportunities, "perhaps in areas that people may not have considered so much before".
SKILLS AND EXPECTATION GAPS
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has been paying closer attention to young jobseekers in this time of global uncertainty, secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said.
This group faces four gaps in their transition to the workforce, he said. The first is a skills gap where youths feel they need upskilling to enter fast-evolving fields.
The second is an expectation gap in terms of salary, work-life balance and job fit, while the third is an opportunity gap, with graduates concerned about how global instability and the rise of artificial intelligence will impact the jobs available to them.
Finally, the experience gap, where employers often want candidates who have prior work experience.
These four gaps are causing anxiety to students coming out to work, said Mr Ng.
"I think these are valid concerns, and it's a sign that our young workers care deeply about meaningful, sustainable careers," he said.
Reiterating Dr Tan's call for new graduates to be flexible, Mr Ng said there are opportunities in Singapore's resilient job market.
"So we do encourage our young workers, our youths, to keep an open mind. Consider all the different possibilities and the job offers available," he said.