Efforts to Mitigate Possible Long-term Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Resulting in Widespread Insecurity and Anxiety among Youths

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in light of the possible long-term negative socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in widespread insecurity and anxiety among youths around the world (a) what are the lessons learnt from past crises that can be applied to our youths in today’s context; and (b) how is the Ministry preparing to mitigate the possible long-term negative outcomes stemming from our current generation of youths who may be more cynical and cautious.

Our youths have faced multiple challenges and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns over future uncertainty, job security and COVID-19’s impact on their financial resources have contributed to insecurity and anxiety among some youths.

We are supporting our youths during this trying period. On the job front, we have rolled out a range of job, training and skills upgrading initiatives to help our youths stay confident about their future.

Youths can take up a range of job and training opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package (SGUJS). An additional $5.4 billion was set aside in 2021 to support the hiring of 200,000 locals through the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) and provide 35,000 traineeships, attachments and training opportunities this year for jobseekers to pick up industry-relevant skills that can ensure their employability. For graduates who may not be able to secure a job straightaway, the SGUnited Traineeships provide them with traineeship opportunities hosted by companies. These traineeship opportunities provide them with valuable industry-relevant experience and help them to build up their skillsets and networks while receiving an allowance.

NYC’s complementary YouthTech Programme and Youth Corps Internship Scheme provide youths with a greater diversity of traineeship and internship opportunities in the social and community sectors. As of October 2021, over 800 youths had benefited from both these programmes.

Graduates of the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) from the Class of 2020 and 2021 also benefited from the free Continuing Education and Training courses offered by their alma maters, the IHLs’ virtual career fairs and enhanced career guidance services and job placement support.

Fresh graduates facing difficulties in their job searches can refer to the Career Starter Programme by Workforce Singapore, which provides tailored career resources and personalised career coaching.

Beyond the initial stages of education, youths can continue upgrading their skills through initiatives supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). They can use their SkillsFuture Credit and tap the SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes (WSPs) at various levels, that is, certificate, diploma, post-diploma and degree programmes, to acquire work-relevant skills and help them transition into the workforce. MOE and SSG will scale up WSPs as a mainstream pathway and aim to make these programmes available to 12% of each age cohort by 2025.

Youths with entrepreneurial aspirations can also take advantage of Enterprise Singapore’s (ESG) Startup SG. This unifies efforts to support our vibrant startup ecosystem. Youths can benefit from programmes, such as Startup SG Founder, which provides mentorship and seed capital for first-time entrepreneurs. ESG also has an extensive network of Accredited Mentor Partners (AMP) to provide budding entrepreneurs with mentorship, learning programmes, networking contacts and potential funding.

We are also working closely with our youths to safeguard and enhance their mental health and well-being, which have taken a toll during the pandemic. The Government, schools and healthcare institutions provide services, and partner community organisations have come together to roll out initiatives to strengthen our youths’ mental well-being and resilience, so they can thrive in this challenging environment and beyond.

To better coordinate these efforts, the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being, chaired by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Health, is developing a national strategy and action plan on mental health and well-being. This includes measures to strengthen support for youths.

Past crises, like SARS, showed that we need to build a strong social compact to weather such national challenges. To this end, the Government has been working with our youths and citizens to strengthen their commitment to our society, community and nation. As such, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, our youths have demonstrated passion, drive and proactiveness in supporting others.

Through our Youth Corps Singapore (YCS), our youth volunteers have supported food charities, such as Willing Hearts, with food packing and meal service to vulnerable communities. YCS volunteers also helped with TOUCH Community Services’ Meals-on-Wheels programme, delivering lunch and dinner meals to home-bound seniors living alone. Our SG Cares Volunteer Centres have also been working closely with our partners in the SG Cares Community Networks to channel support towards community mental wellness initiatives in the respective towns.

Our youths have also initiated their own ground-up movements to support vulnerable groups in the community. For example, when schools transitioned to home-based learning, not all students had a laptop or Wi-Fi at home. ReadAble, a youth volunteer group that runs weekly reading classes for children living in Jalan Kukoh, sourced for donated laptops to needy families from their own networks.

Our youths are our future. And our Government is committed to supporting them and helping them thrive during this pandemic and beyond.