The job market for graduates in Singapore is now increasingly challenging. Many university graduates are finding it difficult to find permanent jobs despite having good academic qualifications and industry training experience.
This situation is driven by several factors such as the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI), slower economic growth after the pandemic and global economic uncertainty.
As a result, many companies are becoming more cautious about hiring new employees.
To help graduates who are still unemployed, the Singapore government introduced the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) program.
This program offers graduates the opportunity to undergo training at government agencies or private companies with a monthly allowance of between S$1,800 and S$2,400.
However, this amount is much lower than the starting salary of graduates in Singapore, which is usually higher.
In fact, the lowest allowance in the program is also lower than the salary received by some management trainees at fast food restaurants.
Although this program is intended to help graduates gain work experience, many feel less confident about participating.
Some people see participation in GRIT as a sign that they will fail to secure permanent employment.
In addition, low allowances are also a concern as some employers use previous salaries as a reference when offering new salaries.
This situation makes graduates worry that their income will continue to remain low in the future.
However, there are also participants who have managed to secure permanent jobs after completing the training.
Some see the programme as an opportunity to gain experience, expand their network of contacts and improve their skills before entering the job market fully.
However, there is no guarantee that all participants will be absorbed as permanent employees after the programme ends.
Overall, this situation illustrates the major challenges facing graduates in Singapore.
Despite the government providing support programmes such as GRIT, issues such as low allowances, fierce job competition and uncertainty about permanent employment opportunities are still major concerns.
For many graduates, they have to accept the opportunities available in order to gain experience and increase their chances of getting a better job in the future.
