Jobs Situation Report 25th Edition

Qualifying window of Jobs Growth Incentive to be extended to March 2022, with adjusted parameters

Close to 400,000 local hires supported by the JGI by May 2021

            In the first nine months of implementation, as at May 2021, close to 400,000 locals were hired by 58,000 businesses to expand their local workforce with support from the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI). This was an increase of about 128,000 JGI-supported hires as at February 2021, which MOM last reported in July 2021. Nearly all (99%) of these businesses were small-medium enterprises (SMEs). About half of the businesses hired one to two local workers, while the rest hired more.

Extension of the Jobs Growth Incentive to March 2022

2. To secure recovery amidst an improving labour market, MOM will extend the JGI by another six months – from October 2021 to March 2022 – to support employers to continue expanding local hiring. Support levels will be tapered down in line with improving conditions. The JGI remains an extraordinary measure and not a permanent scheme. MOM encourages employers with hiring plans to make full use of the extended qualifying period.

3. From October 2021 to March 2022, employers that meet the JGI eligibility criteria¹ will receive the following wage support for their new local hires.

Update on JGI-supported hiring from September 2020 to May 2021

4. JGI continued to support hiring across many sectors (see Chart 1 for breakdown). Four in ten continued to be in growth sectors² (such as Wholesale Trade, Professional Services and Information & Communications), while one in five were in the recovering Food Services and Retail sectors.

5. JGI-eligible employers have continued to hire from a wide pool of jobseekers, including the unemployed, those from different sectors, and mature workers. The proportion of JGI-supported hires of these profiles was similar to MOM’s previous update.

1. Half of the 400,000 JGI-supported hires to-date were not employed at the point of hire and about one-third had been out of work for more than six months.

    

2. About six in 10 were previously employed in a different sector.

    

3. Close to half of JGI-supported hires were mature workers aged 40 and above, and one-third were aged 50 and above.

    

4. Six in 10 of the JGI-supported hires earned the same or higher wages compared to their previous jobs.

6. The Government will continue to provide strong support to employers who are prepared to hire and reskill mid-career hires. Employers can tap on Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package, which provide support for up to 90% training and salary costs.

7. We encourage jobseekers to stay resilient, keep an open mind to new opportunities and consider less familiar roles. Jobseekers who require assistance with their job search can approach Workforce Singapore (WSG) and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), as well as our appointed SGUnited Jobs and Skills Placement Partner, Adecco Personnel Pte Ltd.

Tapping on Government support measures to reskill and build future-ready workforce

8. Alcon Singapore, a global leader in eye care products, has been operating its contact lens manufacturing facility in Singapore since 2005. Alcon has expanded their manufacturing lines and tapped on WSG’s suite of programmes to reskill their workers for new job roles. In 2019, Alcon tapped on the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP) to support the training of nine local workers by German specialists in advanced manufacturing technologies for a new manufacturing line specialising in the production of a new range of contact lenses. This led to Alcon’s expansion and subsequent hire of another 40 locals through CCPs for the new manufacturing line.

9. Altogether, Alcon has hired a total of 160 mid-career locals through the various CCPs for roles such as Calibration Engineer, Microbiologist and Senior Technician (Preventive Maintenance). Most recently, they hired Mr Faidzal Bin Mohamed Ali through the CCP for Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing.

1. Mr Faidzal is one of the 28 new JGI-supported hires who are now part of Alcon’s business expansion. Mr Faidzal was previously a Senior Engineering Assistant in the Electronics industry, where he provided support to manufacturing, maintenance and technical processes. These honed his skills in assembling and troubleshooting industrial machines.

    

2. Recognising that these skills are transferrable, and impressed with Mr Faidzal’s positive attitude and willingness to learn, Alcon had hired him in the role as a Senior Technician in Preventive Maintenance. With funding support from the CCP, Alcon was able to top up Mr Faidzal’s skills set and help him assimilate into a new role in the Biomedical Industry. The CCP equipped Mr Faidzal with industry-relevant technical skills such as technical competency in the Alcon’s LightStream 1 (LS1) manufacturing lines.

10. In addition, notwithstanding business uncertainty during the pandemic, Alcon took in 15 fresh graduates and three mid-career individuals through the SGUnited Traineeships and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways (Company Attachment) programmes. Eight of these trainees have since been converted to full time employees, taking on roles such as Quality Control Assistant Chemist and Water System Engineer.

For More Information

11. Employers who would like to find out more about the JGI, please visit https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Schemes/ Businesses/Jobs-Growth-Incentive--JGI-/.

12. Employers who need support to meet their manpower needs:

1. Information about the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Programme, please visit https://www.wsg.gov.sg/SGUnited.html

    

   b. WSG’s programmes and initiatives for employers, please visit https://www.ssg-wsg.gov.sg/employers/programmes-initiatives.html

      

   c. The SGUnited Jobs and Skills Placement Partners Initiative, please visit https://www.go.gov.sg/sguppi.

13. Jobseekers can tap on the following channels for career matching services:

1. WSG’s programmes and career advisory and matching services, please visit www.mycareersfuture.gov.sg (QR code below) or call WSG’s hotline at 6883 5885.

    

2. NTUC-e2i’s career coaching and job matching services, please visit e2i.com.sg/app or call NTUC-e2i’s hotline at 6474 0606 to book an appointment to meet a career coach.

Annex – Summary of Changes to Jobs Growth Incentive