Debated in Parliament on 11 Jan 2022.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower in the last three years (a) what is the annual acceptance rate for the Professional Conversion Programme for (i) all applicants and (ii) applicants above 50 years old; (b) what proportion of graduates from the (i) SGUnited Skills Programmes (ii) Career Transition Programmes (iii) Career Conversion Programmes and (iv) Professional Conversion Programmes were later employed in full-time permanent jobs; and (c) what proportion of these graduates are employed in full-time, permanent jobs related to their Workforce Singapore-supported skills programme or attachment.
The close to 100 Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) are administered by different programme partners. Jobseekers apply through these programme partners or directly to the employer. Acceptance rates to CCPs are not a meaningful indicator as many jobseekers will apply for more than one job at a time, including CCP positions and other job vacancies. Instead, Workforce Singapore (WSG) monitors the number of jobseekers that have been hired through CCPs. Of the more than 23,000 CCP placements over the last three years, 27% were 50 years and older.
The Member asked about the conversion rate to full-time jobs for WSG-supported programmes under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. WSG administers the SGUnited Traineeships and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programmes, which provide jobseekers with company-hosted traineeship, attachment and training opportunities in a weak labour market. These opportunities enable jobseekers to acquire work experience, skills and networks and put them in a stronger position to seize new job opportunities as the economy recovers. Not all trainees will be hired by their host organisations or even remain in the same sector.
The Member also mentioned the SGUnited Skills Programme, which is run by SkillsFuture Singapore and provides another option for jobseekers. It offers industry-relevant courses delivered by Continuing Education and Training Centres, including Institutes of Higher Learning. As of end-November 2021, about 14,900 individuals have participated in the programme. As this programme falls under the purview of MOE, the Member may wish to file a separate Parliamentary Question if he is keen to find out more about the effectiveness of the specific programme.
In closing, I would like to assure the House that WSG and SkillsFuture Singapore will continue to support all trainees in the various SGUnited Jobs and Skills programmes who require job search assistance.
PAPERCUTS