Speech at Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA)'s Community in Review 2025

Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng, NUSS Guild House

Ustaz Fathurrahman Dawoed, Chairman of AMP Singapore

Dr Mohd Nawab Osman, Chairman of Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA) 

Board Members of RIMA 

Distinguished Guests 

Participants of RIMA’s Community in Review 2025 Conference, 

Ladies and Gentlemen 

A. Introduction 

1. Thank you for having me here this morning today. It is indeed heartening to see such a diverse group here with us today. Young people exploring their paths, along educators, HR leaders, entrepreneurs, as well as community partners who are all part of this ecosystem supporting you.

2. Starting one’s career has never been easy. I remember what it felt like forty years ago - the sense of apprehension, yet at the same time the sense of excitement, as I graduated and stepped into the workplace. 

3. This Guild House has been here since I was an undergraduate in NUS in 1983 – 42 years ago! Coming back here brings back many nostalgic memories, remembering the bonds, friendships and networks I built, which would eventually become very useful for me later in life. 

4. But today of course, I can only imagine the pace, complexity and pressures that our younger generation face today. We are entering a fast-moving world, very unpredictable, constantly evolving - or as a student told me: “lowkey chaotic”. In this whole sea of volatility and uncertainty, Singapore has come up as a relative platform of calm, a relative oasis. This is something which that we should take heart in. Many of us here are concerned about the tariff situation and what it means, particularly for those starting out in their careers. Whether you should be taking more time to upgrade yourselves, perhaps, choose certain courses where you feel there is a competitive advantage? Or just ride it out, take the first job that comes in way, and see what happens? I’m sure these are thoughts that go through your minds. I want to assure you that the Singapore Government is very mindful and careful, in ensuring that our economy, our future, will continue to thrive, as we walk every step with you. 

5. Hence, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set up the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT). We are  watching the situation closely, and we will work with companies to provide internship positions, attachments, interventions, should it become necessary. We will do everything we can to weather this storm together. If you look at the past sixty years, through every crisis, as we come in together in unity, with a common united vision, we will always, always prevail. That’s a reassurance I want to give all of you here today. 

6. Our youth unemployment rate is one of the lowest among developed economies - data from the Ministry of Manpower puts unemployment rate for residents below 30 years old at 4.7% at end-2024. That means more than 95% of our residents below 30 years of age are gainfully employed. Of course, these are just cold hard numbers. It gives us a broad sense of the macroeconomic landscape. But at the individual level, especially for those who looking for a job, the transition from school to work can be very daunting, and you can still feel a sense of overwhelming fear.  

7. This morning, I hope to do two things. First, to offer some inspiration and encouragement to our young people; and second, to reflect with all of you on how we can collectively better support each and every one of you in your career journeys.  


B. For the Youth 

8. To our youths here today – I want to start by saying that you are not expected to have all the answers all at one go. It doesn’t matter where you graduate from – ITE, polytechnics or universities. All of us – our careers  are not linear. As you enter the workforce and get exposed to different supervisors, networks, suppliers, employers, you will have curveballs coming you from all directions, at all times, when you least expect it.  That is the nature of life.
 
9. When you are studying, career guidance is there to help you identify your strengths, explore your interests, and make informed choices.  

10. if you have the opportunity to do exchanges or attachments and internships overseas, I strongly encourage you to venture forth. Looking back on my past, it is the relationships and networks built during that overseas exposure that will give you a very good stead in life. Today’s global economy is very interconnected. So the ability to be flexible, adaptable, to be resilient and work across countries, that sense of curiosity, is a skillset that isis highly sought after. Not just by multi-national corporations (MNCs) which base their regional and global functions in Singapore, but also Singaporean companies which are venturing overseas, across ASEAN and globally. This is a trait that every company will look for. 

11. If you are just leaving a polytechnic, ITE or junior college and are not quite sure whether to continue studying or take the plunge into work – you can check out the SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes.  There are multiple programmes which can help students get diplomas, post-diplomas and degrees while gaining industry-relevant work experience through on-the-job training at the same time. 

12. And when you are ready to search for a job, you can use tools such as the Workforce Singapore’s MyCareersFuture job portal and CareersFinder, thatcan support your efforts. They will help you match your skills to opportunities, suggest and push roles you may not have considered, and point you to upskilling options. If you are still not confident or unsure, you can also speak with a career coach from your IHLs, WSG or one of our partners such as NTUC’s e2i. 

13. As you progress in your career journey, your aspirations will inevitably change and evolve. That is why we have SkillsFuture – it doesn’t justjust prepare you for your first job, but also supports you on your lifelong learning journey. We have also introduced Career Health SG, a nationwide initiative to empower Singaporeans to take charge of their own career development. As part of Career Health SG, we have developed the Careers & Skills Passport (CSP), a personal careers and skills data repository. Think of it as a personal gym coach, but from the career perspective. You can use CSP to share Government verified information such as your employment history and academic qualifications with your employers and potential hirers. 


C. For Employers, HR Professionals, Educators and Community Partners 

14. To the educators, employers, HR professionals and community partners who are here - thank you very much for joining us. You also play an essential role in shaping not just career outcomes, but confidence, resilience - and more importantly, hope. 

15. We have seen many of your efforts bear fruit. Under the M3 (“M cube”) framework, which brings together resources MENDAKI, MUIS and PA MESRA, over 25,000 Malay/Muslim workers have benefitted, whether through career fairs, job matching, skills development, and mentoring programmes.

16. For example, MENDAKI’s Youth Mentoring Office connects youths with professionals who can help them understand the working landscape and explore opportunities in growth sectors. These efforts have also been strengthened by 13 MENDAKI Professional Networks, which span a wide range of sectors such as technology, banking, and finance as well as sustainability. 

17. Looking ahead, I hope that we can continue to count on the strong support of the M3 network as well as all of our community partners to build a competent, resilient and confident workforce. Collectively, we should create more on-ramps for young people through internships and mentoring opportunities.  I believe we can build an ecosystem where all young people - regardless of their starting point – can feel that they are heard, seen, supported and more importantly, empowered to grow. 

D. Conclusion 

18. In conclusion, to all of our youth, please do not worry if the road ahead seems a bit uncertain. To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr, “You don’t have to worry about the whole staircase, just take the first step.” And then after that another step, and another step. The staircase may seem long and daunting, but once you start, you will get the momentum.  

19. To the rest of you supporting them – thank you very much. Your encouragement matters, even if you don’t always get a reply in full sentences. But that smile, that pat, that push, is very very important. I will leave you with this quote:  – Every person needs someone who sees them for not just who they are today, but can see deeper to who they can become. I hope we can all be that someone for a young person, to help that young person realise their fullest potential. Thank you very much.