More than a job: What young Singaporeans say they need to help build their careers
Recent surveys suggest youth are worried they may not keep up with the skills needed in a changing economy.
The National Youth Council's "SG Youth Plan" aims to address the concerns of young Singaporeans navigating a changing work landscape. Despite having one of the lowest youth unemployment rates globally, 49% of youth feel stressed by future uncertainty, and 52% express worries about keeping up with required skills.
Merlyn Tay, a freelance social media manager, graduated during the Covid-19 pandemic and now faces challenges in finding public relations and strategy roles. She values mentorship to provide insights and feedback. A lack of guidance, she says, has been one of her biggest career challenges.
Derrick Teo, a certified senior professional, explains that young people who entered the workforce during the pandemic missed out on informal learning that occurs through interactions with experienced colleagues. Mentoring initiatives are intended to fill this gap, with the Mentoring SG program aiming to offer 20,000 mentoring opportunities annually by 2030.
AI poses a threat to entry-level jobs, with nearly two in five young Singaporeans viewing it as a job threat. However, experts advise focusing on adapting to workplace transformations driven by AI rather than fearing job losses. NYC emphasizes the importance of AI "bilingualism" – combining human strengths with AI to build employability.
Life stage also influences concerns. Schooling youth aged 15 to 19 worry about choosing a career path, while graduates like Janelle Ling, who majored in communication studies, are unsure about applying for permanent roles due to fear of not liking the work. Initiatives like job-tasting programs aim to help young people test career waters.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
