Singapore provides reskilling opportunities for older workers

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng revealed this in Parliament, adding that the long-term unemployment rate in Singapore is at about 0.9%, or about 22,000 residents. He added that the annual rate in a “very good year” is about 0.7% or 0.8%.

As such, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is exploring ways to help these workers acquire different skill sets and called for those facing long-term employment to work with the ministry to reskill in the information and communication technology sector.

Responding to questions about support for long-term unemployed workers, Dr Tan said, “To directly support local jobseekers, the National Jobs Council has placed more than 174,000 jobseekers into jobs and skills opportunities as at end-December 2021.”

This is under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills (SGUJS) Package, which was announced in May 2020 by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as part of the fourth Budget. The SGUJS directly supports those affected by the COVID-19 economic slowdown.

READ: S$500 million support package for Singapore’s struggling sectors

The top five industries with the highest long-term unemployment in June last year were transportation and storage, administrative & support services, arts, entertainment & recreation, construction, accommodation & food services, and real estate services, Dr Tan said.

He also said that as long-term unemployment rates across industries fluctuate from year to year, it would make sense “to help workers across the economy to stay relevant, and jobseekers to switch into new jobs”.