Have you heard about SGUnited Skills Programme? Why this initiative is important? Did you know Singapore has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the Asian Pacific region? Records estimate that in 2020, 9.7 percent of the people between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed.
What is upsetting is that most of these young people have a college diploma. This shows that finding a job even after getting your degree can be frustrating. You could be walking around with a degree but nowhere to showcase your skills.
One of the contributing factors is unmarketable courses. These have very few opportunities for you to apply your skills thus leaving many jobless.
Luckily, the government of Singapore has discovered the unemployment gap and come up with the SG United Skills Program.
It has several courses that impact trainees. Not only does it train on the most in-demand skills but also those with a high hiring rate. This article will teach you all you need to know about the SG United Skills Programs.
Who is Eligible for the SGUnited Skills Programme?
The SG United Skills program is only open to Singapore natives and permanent residents. You must, however, be at least 21 years old.
You must also have an A-level diploma and previous work experience in any healthcare or non-healthcare sector. Finally, you need to have been displaced from a job lately.
What is the SG United Job Initiative?
The government created the SG United job initiative to provide over 10,000 job opportunities for the following year. The opportunities in the program were either long-term or short-term.
This initiative was formed in response to the challenges caused by COVID. The SG United Job Initiative helped workers know where they fit in the enterprise world. It also helped enterprises hire people for eventual recovery and short-term labor needs.
The government worked in conjunction with the Singapore Business Federation and Trade Association to identify opportunities in the private sector too.
The Workforce Singapore (WSF) conducted an online career workshop together with SG United Jobs. The workshop managed to create over 2200 short-term vacancies that were temporary.
This is how the Workforce Singapore (WSF)will support the initiative;
- Provide advice on appropriate staffing hiring strategies
- Allow for job postings on SGUnited, MyCareerFuture.sg (MCF), and Virtual Career Fair (VCF)
- An email blast was sent to a database of job seekers.
- Distribute JD information to Careers Connect locations in Woodlands, Tampines, and Paya Lebar.
- Disseminate JD information through Careers Connect On the Go (CCOTG) platforms.
To facilitate employment companies with in-demand were expected to:
- Increase the pace of hiring for permanent positions
- Advertise job openings on MyCareerFuture.sg (MCF)
- Attend the SGUnited Virtual Career Fair (VCF)
- Send the Work Order Form to TACs for job matching.
- Provide opportunities for traineeships to recent graduates.
- Advertise Traineeship Positions on MyCareerFuture.sg (MCF)
- Attend the SGUnited Virtual Career Fair (VCF)
- Inform the Singapore Business Federation of your interest (SBF)
- Adjust and Expand
- Programs for Competent Conversion
- Place-and-Train or Rank-and-File Programs
- P-Max Initiatives
- Career Pathway
- Career Development Program
- Job Matching Services
However, some companies gained excess manpower and this is what they could do
- Round up the workforce’s statistics and job roles:
- Long-term positions
- Temporary Employees (including second job arrangement)
– Send the Job Order Form to TACs for job matching.
– Inform influenced workers to search for job openings on MyCareerFuture.sg (MCF) and Virtual Career Fair (VCF)
- Adapt and Grow
- Programs for Qualified Conversion
- Place-and-Train and Rank-and-File Programs
Benefits of the SGUnited Skills Programme
- Once you get employed somewhere before the program ends, you can exit without any consequences.
- You will enjoy a monthly allowance of $1,200 that will help you offset your daily and basic needs throughout the program.
- The program will give you vast industry experience. You will participate in several industry talks, seminars, and networking opportunities to expand your exposure.
You will also have the possibility of participating in workplace absorption and industry-based projects to put your newly acquired skills to use.
- The SG United Skills Program will assist you in the process of job hunting and improve your chances of finding employment.
- In addition to training, SIM’s Industry Engagement Office will provide you with a face-to-face career mentorship program.
This program also holds several benefits for the employers and partnered companies, such as:
- They do not have any responsibility to employ the trainee after the program concludes.
- Enhancing hiring incentive whereby if they employ locals aged 40 and up, they will receive 40% salary assistance for 6 months (up to $12,000). If they hire local individuals under the age of 40, they will receive a 20% salary subsidy for six months (up to $6,000).
Some of the courses offered in the SGUnited Skills Programme are:
- Automation systems
- Beauty Therapist
- Customer service
- Digital Administration
- Healthcare assistance
- Logistics
- Manufacturing techniques
- Online retailing
- Rapid transit techniques
- Online retailing
- Rapid transit techniques
- Social media marketing and administration.
Latest Modifications to the Program
- The government extended the program until March 31st, 2022.
- Intense training and more spots are available for courses in industries with high hiring potential.
- The government reduced the course period for SG United Skills program intakes.
Also note that because all internships must begin by March 31st, 2022, host organizations’ indications of interest in taking part in the program will close on January 31, 2002. This will enable them have enough time to select and recruit trainees.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When did the SGUnited Skills Program begin? How long will the program be on the air?
- Courses in the SGUnited Skills Program began in early July 2020, with new courses becoming available for enrollment until March 2021.
- The SGUnited Skills Program will be prolonged for an additional year, until March 2022 as confirmed in Budget 2021, and courses must begin by March 31, 2022. The curriculum hopes to assist 20,000 job seekers.
- How long does the SGUnited Skills Program last and what are their bridging modules? How do trainees recognize the ones they should take?
- Trainees who require additional assistance in developing basic fundamental competencies (e.g., workplace literacy, and digital and numeracy literacy) may be referred to SGUnited Skills Program bridging modules.
- Based on the trainees’ qualifications, these modules can last up to three months. You can get more details from the SGUnited Skills Program training providers.
What format will the SG United Skills courses take? How will the training be conducted?
The learning method varies depending on the course, but it usually consists of in-person training, virtual classes, and project work with corporates.
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