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Written Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on Aligning New Growth Industries and Jobs with Career Pathways for Workers

Notice Paper No. 328 Of 2014 For The Sitting On Or After 3 November 2014 Question No. 118 For Written Answer

MP: Mr Ang Hin Kee

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) how does the Ministry ensure that new industries and jobs that have been identified for Singapore's growth are aligned with clear career pathways for workers; (b) how does the Ministry plan to prepare workers and gear them up to do a career switch or take on jobs in these new industries; and (c) how are the economic agencies coordinating with the two National Continuing Education and Training Campuses on the above.

Answer

  1. As Singapore’s economy restructures, there will be changes in the job market and the skills that are needed. To prepare Singaporeans to take up jobs in new growth industries, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) works closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the economic agencies, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), and the Ministry of Education (MOE) to support each sector’s manpower needs.
  2. The Government works closely with education and training providers to see that the needs of industry are taken into account in planning for various course offerings. For instance, to support the Future of Manufacturing (FoM), the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Nanyang Technology University (NTU) have established the NTU Additive Manufacturing Centre to help build a pipeline of post-graduate talent in additive manufacturing. EDB, together with WDA and Temasek Polytechnic, has also introduced the Biologics Overseas Skills Training Programme (BOOST) this year to build up a pipeline of specialists for Singapore’s biologics manufacturing sector.
  3. CET courses under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework are aligned to industry-endorsed standards. To further enhance our CET infrastructure, the Government has also established two CET campuses recently. The CET campuses play a key role in integrating the industry more closely with training, and promoting collaboration among CET professionals to develop more effective learning methods.
  4. The Government will also establish a new tripartite SkillsFuture Council to spearhead national efforts to equip Singaporeans with skills relevant to the future, and build a future based on the mastery of skills. The Council will oversee efforts to develop an integrated, industry-responsive and future oriented system of education and lifelong learning.
  5. As part of the next phase of developing our CET system, the SkillsFuture Council will take forward a suite of new and enhanced initiatives to build a career-resilient workforce. This will involve working with employers, unions, and training providers to enable individuals to make informed learning and career choices, and provide a wider range of high quality learning opportunities1.
  6. To account for sector-specific skill and manpower needs, the SkillsFuture Council will also adopt a sectoral approach to identifying existing skill gaps and anticipating the future skills that Singaporean workers will need given advancements in technology and new business models. This will inform the development of the education and training system to ensure that individuals are equipped with the required skills to take on and progress in quality jobs.
1Source: Press Release by WDA on CET 2020: Transforming the CET system to build a competitive economy and a career resilient workforce.