Directing Graduates towards Sectors Maintaining Active Hiring and Wage Growth
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Yip Hon Weng's inquiry about sectors maintaining active hiring and wage growth and how new graduates are guided toward these opportunities. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng highlighted that sectors such as Financial and Insurance Services, Professional Services, and Information and Communications saw 14,200 PMET vacancies. These sectors recorded real median income increases exceeding the 4.3% overall growth, and Institutes of Higher Learning provide Education and Career Guidance services to assist students. Graduates can also access career matching via Workforce Singapore (WSG), career coaching from the Employment and Employability Institute, and advisory services from the Volunteer Career Advisors initiative. Additionally, the MyCareersFuture portal's CareersFinders feature helps graduates discover pathways and transition effectively into growth sectors within the workforce.
Transcript
39 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower (a) which sectors currently maintain active hiring and wage growth; and (b) how are new graduates guided towards these opportunities.
Dr Tan See Leng: Most sectors continued to hire and experienced wage growth in 2025. Even though overall job vacancies eased during the year, the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons remained above 1.0 since June 2021, representing more job vacancies than unemployed persons. Financial and Insurance Services, Professional Services, and Information and Communications were among the sectors that saw active hiring and wage growth for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs). These are roles that are suitable for new graduates. There were 14,200 PMET vacancies in these sectors, based on data as at September 2025, up from 12,600 one year ago. In 2025, these sectors recorded real median income increases that were higher than the overall median growth of 4.3%.
All Institutes of Higher Learning have Education and Career Guidance services for students and new graduates to provide guidance on various career pathways and opportunities, including in growth sectors and to facilitate their transition into the workforce. New graduates can also access career matching services and programmes offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and its partners. These include career coaching services by WSG and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, and career advisory from working professionals in WSG's Volunteer Career Advisors initiative. New graduates can also explore opportunities on WSG's MyCareersFuture portal, using its CareersFinders feature to discover career pathways.