Fresh graduates in Singapore are facing a challenging job market, and their anxieties are very real. A recent poll by CNA revealed that a significant number of university graduates from the Class of 2023 found it harder to secure a job, with 24% taking six months or longer to find a full-time position—a sharp increase from just 10% in 2022. The data shows this is more than just a feeling: 65% of the Class of 2023 felt “quite anxious” or “very anxious” about their job search, compared to 53% the year before. Furthermore, resident unemployment rates saw a disproportionately high increase for young workers under 30 in Q2, with the unemployment rate for those aged 15-29 jumping from 3.3% to 4.2%.
However, the employment landscape is not as bleak as it may seem. According to data from the Ministry of Manpower, as of June 2025, the employment rate for fresh resident graduates was 51.9%, an increase from 47.9% a year ago (June 2024). This shows that while the job market is competitive, a higher percentage of new graduates are finding employment soon after graduation.
Some might view these statistics as a sign that our leaders were not forward-thinking enough to anticipate these systemic employment issues. However, this perspective overlooks the fact that a systemic problem requires a systemic solution, which is precisely what Singapore’s tripartite partners—the government, employers, and the NTUC—have been building for years. The “experience gap” is not a new or unforeseen failure; rather, it is a recurring reality in a dynamic, knowledge-based economy where adaptability and practical skills are paramount.
A Familiar Struggle, A Modern Solution
While today’s graduates face anxieties amplified by digital disruption and evolving job demands, the core challenge is a familiar one. In the past, each generation had to adapt to a new economic reality. In the 1980s, it was about mastering industrial and engineering work. In the 2000s, it was about shifting to finance and services. Today, the skills gap is often about digital literacy, adaptability, and soft skills like communication and problem-solving. It’s the same struggle, just with different skills.
The NTUC, in particular, has been at the forefront of this fight, continuously evolving its support systems to meet the needs of each new generation of workers. Today, that support comes in the form of initiatives like:
- NTUC Youth Excel (Experience Career Empowerment and Leadership): This program, a more recent evolution from initiatives like the Career Starter Lab, is a two-day workshop that helps young people discover their career strengths, build a professional brand, and gain confidence for job applications. It’s designed to provide the mentorship and practical guidance that new graduates crave.
- Company Training Committees (CTCs): These are partnerships between companies and the NTUC that redesign jobs and embed new skills. This ensures that when a new hire comes onboard, there’s a clear training pipeline to help them adapt quickly and gain relevant experience on the job.
- SkillsFuture: This national movement provides Singaporeans with credits and subsidies for a vast array of courses, making continuous upskilling and reskilling an accessible part of everyone’s career journey.
- The GRiT (Growth, Resilience, Innovation, Transformation) programme also helps companies fund training and reskilling, ensuring that jobs are not just created but also sustained and made future-ready.
Shared Responsibility: It Takes Two Hands to Clap
While the government and NTUC provide the safety net and infrastructure, it’s a fresh graduate’s attitude, proactiveness, and willingness to adapt that are crucial to their success. The claim that this is “not your problem to solve alone” is true, but it doesn’t mean you have no part to play. It’s a shared responsibility.
Consider the contrast between past and present. Our parents’ and grandparents’ generations had to learn on the job, often through trial and error, with little to no formal career coaching or mentorship networks. Today, graduates have an unprecedented array of resources: university career fairs, SkillsFuture credits, internship portals, structured mentorships, and even AI-powered tools. These resources are a testament to the foresight of our tripartite partners.
A recent CNA poll highlighted that nearly 6 in 10 graduates from the Class of 2023 were willing to accept a part-time or contract role if it helped them get a foot in the door. This shows a positive shift in mindset, reframing the first job not as a lifelong destination but as a stepping stone to acquire skills and open future doors.
A Message to Graduating Youths and Fresh Graduates
The anxieties you feel about the job market are valid. The challenges are real, but so is the extensive support system that has been built for you. The government and NTUC have a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy in place to help you navigate this period.
Rather than feeling daunted by the “systemic challenges,” actively leverage the extensive resources available, such as NTUC Starter membership to support your transition from school to work. Take the initiative to tap on career coaching, mentorship programs, training subsidies, and career services. Your success in a fast-changing economy will come from combining what society provides with your own resilience and resourcefulness. You are stepping into the market better equipped than any generation before you, and with the right mindset, these challenges can become the foundation of a strong, adaptable, and successful career.
