SkillsFuture Credit Utilisation across Income Bands, Housing Types and Course Areas in 2025 and Further Strategies to Improve Utilisation Rates
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP David Hoe’s inquiry into SkillsFuture Credit utilization patterns as of end-2025 and strategies to increase uptake among lower-income and less-upskilled segments. Minister Desmond Lee clarified that while popular courses included information technology and transportation, the Ministry does not track utilization by individual income or housing type. He noted that adult learners prefer flexible online learning, while training allowances are available to support mid-careerists undertaking substantive, longer-form training to acquire new skills. SkillsFuture Singapore also collaborates with the Labour Movement and self-help groups to assist less digitally savvy individuals in making purposeful training choices aligned with career pathways. These outreach efforts and partnerships aim to ensure SkillsFuture initiatives better support diverse individuals in taking up relevant courses to meet labor market demands.
Transcript
24 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for Education based on the SkillsFuture Credit utilisation patterns as at end-2025, (a) what key lessons and takeaways the Ministry has drawn on how utilisation differs across household income bands, housing types and broad course areas; and (b) how these insights will inform refinements to increase utilisation rates and ensure SkillsFuture Credits better reach and benefit lower-income and less-upskilled segments.
Mr Desmond Lee: In general, training demand reflects the skills that are sought after in the labour market. As at end-2025, the most popular courses using the SkillsFuture Credit were in the areas of Information and Communication, Transportation and Storage, Advertising, Sales and Marketing, and Food and Beverages.
We do not track SkillsFuture Credit utilisation by an individual's income or housing type. Our observation is that adult learners prefer courses that are able to accommodate their busy schedules, such as online learning. In addition, we have measures, such as the training allowance, to help mid-careerists acquire skills that require substantive, longer-form training.
To help individuals make well-informed training choices that match their job requirements or desired career pathway, SkillsFuture Singapore works with community partners, the Labour Movement and self-help groups to raise awareness of the SkillsFuture movement and how to use SkillsFuture initiatives purposefully, including to individuals who are less digitally savvy. Through these efforts, we aim to better support individuals in taking up relevant training courses, including when using their SkillsFuture Credit.