Nexus between Income Earned and Attendance at Continuing Education & Training (CET) Courses

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry tracks data that quantifies the association between attending Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses and the successful trainee attaining a higher income as a result of the CET course and, if so, whether the data can be published on a regular basis.

Skills development and lifelong learning are key to helping Singaporeans remain employable and to have good careers in the fast-changing global

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economy. We all need to continually upgrade and reskill to remain competitive and employable.

Since 2009, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has been conducting annual Outcome Evaluation Surveys on training outcomes of individuals who undertook training under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system. The survey covers both individuals and employers. It aims to find out if individuals are able to apply their skills, advance their careers, or achieve job mobility after attending training. Findings from the annual surveys are already published.

Based on the latest published findings in 20147, 19% of respondents reported receiving a pay increment and 37% received a new or enlarged job scope. This is an increase from 15% and 34% respectively from the previous survey. In addition, 95% of the respondents said that WSQ training helped them perform more efficiently and effectively at work.

WDA has also conducted a longitudinal study to compare the wages of individuals who had attended WSQ training with those who had not. The study, completed in 2013, showed that overall individuals who completed some WSQ training8 had higher wages of 1.3% to 4.3% compared to those who did not. Individuals who attained full WSQ qualifications had even better wage outcomes, with higher wages of 5.3% compared to those who only completed some WSQ training. Also, the benefits for lower-wage workers9 were higher than average10.

We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of our education and training system.

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