Skilled trades fight ‘unglam, dirty’ perceptions to woo young people into shrinking local workforce
As young people become more educated, many favour other less physical, more office-based roles.
Benetton and Royston Chan, two brothers, grew up helping their father, an electrician and plumber. They learned practical skills by installing fixtures and fitting water heaters. After graduating from high school, the 19-year-old Benetton and 23-year-old Royston started their own handyman company, Sparkflow, in 2013, to address a perceived gap in the market.
Their father, now 70, was supportive of their decision to continue the family trade. Benetton, who holds a degree in economics and finance from RMIT University, is open to his young son following in their footsteps, but they are the exception. As Singapore's workforce has become increasingly office-based and less physically demanding, fewer young people are drawn to skilled trades.
The dwindling pool of locals interested in these roles is further exacerbated by the increasing number of university-educated workers who prioritize stable, office-based careers. Some trade workers, like Richard Tock, a 65-year-old licensed plumber, worry about the lack of succession planning and the possibility of losing their knowledge and skills.
In 2025, there were 51,600 residents employed as craftsmen and related trades workers, with an average age of 56. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported that 133,000 foreign workers filled these positions. Despite efforts to improve the attractiveness of skilled trades, barriers remain, including the physical nature of the work and the perception of lower status and lower pay.
However, experts argue that skilled trades offer jobs that are more resilient to disruption from technologies like artificial intelligence and will remain essential to Singapore's economy. The government is working on providing structured pathways, better professional recognition, and improved career progression opportunities to address these challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
