Key Performance Indicators Tracked for Effectiveness of Courses in Upskilling Workers for Shortage Occupation List

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education what are the key performance indicators tracked by the Ministry in terms of (i) the employability of disrupted workers after attending a funded training programme, (ii) the time taken to find employment and (iii) the availability and effectiveness of courses that upskill workers to enter occupations in the Shortage Occupation List.

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) supports a wide range of training programmes for workers across ages and career stages. For disrupted workers, SSG offers train-and-place programmes that provide industry-oriented training coupled with job placement support. These were ramped up during the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of SGUnited Skills and SGUnited Pathway Programmes – Company Training to support jobseekers impacted by the pandemic. Over 26,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents participated in these programmes as of end-March 2022. Around 64% of those aged below 40 and 56% of those aged 40 and above found employment within six months of course completion.

With the recovery of the economy, SSG has transited the SGUnited programmes to the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP), officially launched in April 2022 as the steady-state Train-and-Place programme for mid-career individuals. SCTP courses are developed in sectors with good hiring opportunities, in consultation with sector agencies and industry.

To ensure that continuing education and training programmes meet the needs of companies and individuals, SSG works closely with sector agencies and industry partners, and monitors labour market data, such as job postings by employers. This helps SSG to identify manpower needs and skills gaps, anticipate emerging skills demand and evolving job roles, and develop relevant programmes to address these needs. This includes areas of skills gaps reflected in the Shortage Occupation List, which captures occupations that require highly specialised skills currently lacking in the local workforce.