Less than a third of job vacancies placed in Singapore

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat believes the system needs to be improved to better match job candidates to job vacancies.
By: | October 9, 2020
Topics: Asia-Pacific | News | Recruitment | Singapore | Southeast Asia | Talent Management

Despite 117,500 jobs being created by the National Jobs Council in Singapore, only 33,100 local job seekers were placed in these roles, according to the latest jobs situation report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

And Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat believes the system needs to be improved to better match job candidates.

One way is to look at how the database systems available can be better utilised for the purpose of job matching, he said.

“Going forward, I think we need to further improve this matching of job vacancies to job seekers. And this is what the SGUnited Job and Skills Centres and other agencies will be doing,” said Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance.

“It has not been an easy journey for people who have lost their jobs. But I’m glad to see that spirit of resilience, that they keep trying,” he added.

While the process of finding a job is not straightforward, Heng urged job seekers to not give up in their search.

“At the same time, there’s also a whole range of training programmes… (and) a very good suite of programmes to help our people build new skills,” he said.

“There are new opportunities if we change our minds about what are good jobs, and be prepared to undergo training, be prepared to persevere, and continue to look for good opportunities,” he added.