90% of polytechnic grads in Singapore secured employment within 6 months of graduation or post-NS in 2025

Polytechnic graduates in full-time permanent employment saw their median gross monthly salary climb from S$2,900 in 2024 to S$3,000 in 2025.

Polytechnic graduates entering the workforce in 2025 continued to find jobs quickly, with nine in 10 securing employment within six months of completing their studies or National Service (NS), as stated in the 2025 Polytechnic Graduates Employment Survey (GES). 

The survey, which is a joint initiative by the five polytechnics in Singapore, records the responses of both fresh and post-NS graduates, and captures employment outcomes about six months after graduation (as at 1 October 2025).

The table below breaks down the numbers by category: 

Based on the findings, it was evident that in the 2024 cohort, the six-month employment rate came in at 88%, five percentage points lower than the 93% recorded for the 2023 cohort.

By the 12-month mark, however, outcomes had largely converged: 93% of the 2024 cohort were either in local further studies or had wage records, compared with 94% for the 2023 cohort. The remaining 7% includes graduates who may be unemployed, studying overseas, or working as freelancers or self-employed individuals whose earnings are not captured in wage data.

A similar trend was seen in the 2025 cohort. Based on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)'s labour market data, total employment continued to grow in 2025, although the impact varied by sector. As of Q3 2025, resident employment growth was strongest in financial & insurance services and health & social services. In contrast, outward-facing sectors such as information & communications experienced more subdued growth amid ongoing global economic uncertainty.

Importantly, the demand for fresh graduates remains firm, with entry-level vacancies rising to 39,000 in September 2025, up from 26,000 a year earlier. Around 40% of these roles were in growth sectors including information & communications, financial & insurance services and professional services.

Speaking on behalf of the Polytechnic GES Committee on the outcome of the survey findings, Lim Kok Kiang, Principal & CEO, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, shared his observations: “Our polytechnic graduates have continued to demonstrate resilience, securing opportunities in growth sectors including finance, healthcare and social services amid economic uncertainty."

He affirmed that the polytechnics will deepen industry-focused curricula, broaden workplace immersion, and strengthen career guidance to help students develop the skills, confidence, and adaptability needed for long-term careers.

In addition to graduate employment, the survey findings also revealed that graduates in full-time permanent (FTP) employment saw their median gross monthly salary increase from S$2,900 in 2024 to S$3,000 in 2025.

The top three salaries by course

Salary outcomes varied across courses. Below highlights the top three salaries by course cluster for fresh graduates, post-NS graduates, and the combined group:

All salaries shown are in SGD.

View the full list of salaries per course cluster here:

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Infographics: Polytechnic GES Survey, Ngee Ann Polytechnic