Sufficient Workforce Readiness Support towards Singapore's Electrification Plans
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui’s inquiry about workforce readiness for Singapore’s electrification plans and the sufficiency of electrical engineering talent. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong replied that the Government partners with institutions and industry to provide training like the National Electric Vehicle Specialist Safety Certification Programme. Approximately 1,850 electrical engineering students graduate annually from universities, polytechnics, and the Institutes of Technical Education to meet industry demands. The Government monitors job trends through the Skills Framework for Energy and Power, jointly developed with unions and industry stakeholders, to ensure a sustainable pipeline of workers. These measures specifically support workforce capabilities in sustainability, data centres, and transportation sectors to ensure the industry’s long-term electrification needs are met.
Transcript
3 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how will Singapore's plans for electrification in sustainability, data centres, and transportation be supported by workforce readiness; and (b) whether there is sufficient electrical engineering talent to meet such rising demands.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Government partners Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and industry stakeholders to build workforce capabilities to support electrification, for both pre-employment training and continuing education. For example, the Singapore Certified Energy Manager Programme developed by the National University of Singapore provides training for improving energy efficiency and supporting electrification in the industry sector.
Similarly, the Land Transport Authority and SkillsFuture Singapore have co-developed the National Electric Vehicle Specialist Safety Certification Programme to equip technicians with the skills to maintain electric vehicles. Our IHLs' courses on data centre design and construction also prepare students for the latest sustainability standards required of data centres.
There are around 900, 600, and 350 electrical engineering graduates from the autonomous universities, polytechnics and the Institutes of Technical Education respectively each year. We will continue to monitor jobs and skills trends to ensure that there is a sustainable pipeline of workers to support the industry's electrification needs. This will be incorporated into guidance on industry-relevant training needs, such as the Skills Framework for Energy and Power which was jointly developed by the Government, industry, unions, and IHLs.