Measures Addressing Involuntary Underemployment among Fresh Graduates and Junior Professionals
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns measures to address involuntary non-time-based underemployment among fresh graduates and junior professionals, as raised by Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng responded that while such underemployment remains low and stable, the government is studying trends and providing enhanced career guidance through tools like the Singapore Opportunity Index and Polaris. Specific programmes like Graduate Industry Traineeships address experience gaps, while employers receive support for job redesign via the Productivity Solutions Grant and Career Conversion Programmes. These initiatives ensure that individuals find roles matching their qualifications and that employers fully utilize their employees' skills to minimize underemployment. Additionally, the government is conducting an Economic Strategy Review to create quality jobs that align with the potential and aspirations of the resident workforce.
Transcript
29 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower what measures are being taken to address involuntary non-time-based underemployment, especially for fresh graduates and junior professionals, given expected easing in job mobility and hiring sentiments.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been working with tripartite partners and the International Labour Organization to study underemployment trends and will be releasing our detailed findings in due course. Based on our findings to date, non-time-based underemployment is comparable to that observed in other developed economies. The incidence of involuntary non-time-based underemployment has remained low and stable over time. Nevertheless, we would support those who are unable to secure jobs that commensurate with their skills and qualifications.
To help individuals to find jobs that better match their qualifications and skills, we have progressively enhanced career matching services and career guidance tools. Last year, MOM also launched the Singapore Opportunity Index to help jobseekers better identify employers that provide opportunities aligned with their aspirations.
Fresh graduates and junior professionals can receive additional support from Workforce Singapore's Polaris by Volunteer Career Advisors for industry-specific career advice during and after their studies. We have also rolled out programmes, like the Graduate Industry Traineeships, to address experience gaps that may lead to graduates being unable to find jobs that are a good match with their qualifications and skills.
We support employers to redesign jobs, through the Support for Job Redesign under Productivity Solutions Grant and Career Conversion Programmes (Job Redesign Reskilling) so that they can more fully utilise their employees' skills.
We will continue to explore ways to maximise our people's potential and minimise underemployment. Through the ongoing Economic Strategy Review, the Government is actively reviewing measures to create good jobs that match our resident workforce's potential, qualifications and skills and to empower Singaporeans to maximise their career potential.