At this year’s National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the government will roll out a new government-funded traineeship programme for fresh graduates.
The scheme is meant to support those graduating from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities who may be concerned about finding jobs in the current uncertain economy.
PM Wong said the programme will start with a small, focused rollout, but it will be expanded if the economic situation gets worse.
More details will be shared soon by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce.
Learning from past experience
He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies froze full-time hiring. But through the SGUnited Traineeships Programme, graduates still got to gain real-world experience, receive allowances, and keep their skills sharp.
That programme, co-funded by the government and companies, ran for two years and helped thousands of graduates before ending when the economy recovered.
Jobs are top priority
PM Wong made clear that jobs remain the government’s number one economic priority. Beyond traineeships, more will be done to help graduates connect with employers — such as improving job matching services and bringing more career fairs directly into tertiary institutions.
Responding to the announcement, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Choo shared on Facebook that he was “heartened” by PM Wong’s commitment to leave no one behind.
Choo, who has long pushed for stronger youth support, said it was reassuring to see more being done to help graduates gain confidence and skills.
He highlighted NTUC’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Youth EXCEL Programme, which equips young people with job search and leadership skills, and the Career Mentorship Programme, which pairs youths with experienced guides.
He also pointed to the NTUC Starter Awards, which support students in education and leadership development. “These efforts are about giving every young worker a fair chance at meaningful careers and a bright future,” he wrote.
Support beyond jobs
In his speech, PM Wong also acknowledged that young Singaporeans face concerns beyond employment, especially housing and parenting.
Over the past year, the government has built more HDB flats with higher subsidies, given more leave for parents, and offered more help with parenting costs. Additional measures are being studied.
Closing his Rally speech, PM Wong offered words of reassurance to young people:
“Growing up today can feel overwhelming. The future may seem uncertain. But you are not alone. We see you, we hear you, and we will walk with you – every step of the way.”
