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Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng has shared details on expanded career development opportunities for Singaporean professionals, such as through overseas postings.
Singapore’s Minister of Manpower, Dr Tan See Leng, delivered his Committee of Supply speech on 6 March 2025 (Thursday), outlining three key focus areas to ensure Singapore continues to grow its economic pie and create meaningful opportunities for its people:
- #1 Enabling businesses to transform,
- #2 Empowering workers to build their career health, and
- #3 Fostering fair, inclusive, and safe workplaces.
This article will focus on Minister Tan’s speech on empowering workers to build their career health through different life stages as Singapore’s economy transforms.
Empowering workers through lifelong learning
Citing the OECD’s Survey of Adult Skills, Minister Tan highlighted that Singaporeans’ literacy skills begin to decline as early as their mid-30s, reinforcing the urgency of lifelong learning.
He acknowledged the concerns of those facing career uncertainties, stating: "“I understand this data might not reassure those who are anxious or who may have lived experiences, difficulties with their livelihoods, struggling to find purpose, meaning or roles that match their expectations.”
“Let me assure every fellow Singaporean, for those in this phase of your career journey, you are not alone. We have a wide range of programmes to help you stay up-to-date in the job market, stay employed, and seize good job opportunities. This is the spirit behind Career Health SG.”
Career Health SG aims to help Singaporeans navigate the evolving job market, make informed career plans, and work toward their aspirations. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will expand the use of SkillsFuture Credits to include eligible career guidance services provided by Workforce Singapore (WSG)-endorsed providers.
Strengthening Singapore's global competitiveness
To nurture a strong pipeline of Singaporean corporate leaders, Minister Tan outlined key government initiatives:
- Expanding leadership development opportunities – The Government will double the capacity of programmes that support businesses in sending Singaporeans on overseas postings or leadership milestone programmes, increasing participation from 400 to 700 annually.
- Enhancing overseas transition support – Additional support will be provided for Singaporeans and their families as they embark on overseas assignments.
- Strengthening leadership communities – Networks and resources will be expanded to support Singaporeans in leadership roles.
Support for jobseekers
Starting in April 2025, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will be implemented, offering temporary financial assistance of up to S$6,000 over six months. Participants must actively engage in job searching with support from WSG and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
Supporting senior workers and retirement adequacy
With an ageing population, Singapore is taking proactive steps to extend the productive longevity of senior workers and enhance retirement adequacy.
Later this year, a tripartite-led effort will be launched to co-develop strategies for enabling multi-stage careers for mature workers. MOM, NTUC, and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) will establish a Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment (TWG-SE) to develop policy recommendations in two areas:
- Empowering senior workers to remain productive and employable, and
- Promoting age-friendly jobs and workplaces.
Additionally, an Alliance for Action on Empowering Multi-Stage Careers for Mature Workers (AfA-EMW) will be convened to bring together stakeholders and generate innovative solutions to support senior employment.
The Senior Employment Credit (SEC), which provides wage offsets of up to 7% for employers hiring Singaporean workers aged 60 and above earning less than S$4,000, will be extended until end-2026. The highest tier of support will now apply to workers aged 69 and above, up from 68 and above.
Enhancing CPF contributions and employer support
In 2026, senior worker CPF contribution rates will increase, along with an extension of the CPF Transition Offset to help employers manage rising costs.
To mitigate business cost increases, the Government will provide a one-year CPF Transition Offset equivalent to half of the 2026 increase in employer CPF contribution rates for every Singaporean and Permanent Resident worker aged above 55 to 65. This support will be applied automatically, requiring no application from employers.
Minister Tan emphasised the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Singaporeans’ retirement security, stating: “We have made good progress in strengthening the retirement adequacy of Singaporeans, through moves in the last two years.”
He cited recent changes, including:
- Raising the CPF monthly salary ceiling from S$7,400 to S$8,000 starting 1 January 2026, and
- Ensuring eligible working seniors continue to receive the annual Earn and Save Bonus.
Minister Tan also noted that the Government is studying further initiatives, including the Lifetime Retirement Investment Scheme, to enhance retirement adequacy.
Read our other Committee of Supply coverage below:
- MOM Committee of Supply 2025: MOM Committee of Supply 2025: Measures announced to strengthen the pipeline of Singaporean leaders
- MOM Committee of Supply 2025: Minister Tan highlights 3 workforce priorities for the year ahead
Lead image / MOM
Infographics / MOM COS factsheet
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