Employment rates hold firm as skills and internships reshape graduate hiring trends
Fresh polytechnic graduates entered 2025 facing global economic uncertainty, yet employment outcomes show resilience. While hiring patterns are evolving, stable job placement and rising wages point to a labor market that increasingly rewards skills, adaptability, and real-world experience.
Stable Employment Despite Economic Uncertainty
Results from the Graduate Employment Survey released on January 15 showed that 54.2 percent of fresh polytechnic graduates secured full-time permanent jobs in 2025. This marked a slight dip from 54.6 percent in 2024, but overall employment outcomes remained steady amid a volatile global economy. In total, 90 percent of graduates found employment within six months of graduation or completion of full-time national service, only marginally lower than 90.4 percent recorded the year before.
Starting Salaries Continue to Rise
Graduate pay continued its upward trend in 2025. The median gross monthly salary for full-time permanent roles rose from SGD 2,900 in 2024 to SGD 3,000. Humanities and social sciences graduates earned the highest median pay at SGD 3,200, followed by health sciences graduates at SGD 3,011, reflecting strong demand for specialized and people-centric skill sets.
Improved Survey Methodology Offers Clearer Insights
For the first time, the survey measured whether graduates had secured employment rather than relying on a simple employed-unemployed split. Those considered employed now include graduates who accepted job offers, were preparing to start businesses, or were engaged in freelance or part-time work. This methodological shift provides a more accurate picture of graduate outcomes in a changing employment landscape.
Workforce Participation and Further Studies
Among the 12,835 respondents, 43.9 percent were active in the labor force. Meanwhile, 56.1 percent were not working or job-seeking because they were pursuing or preparing for further education. Officials noted that employment outcomes typically improve beyond the six-month mark, supported by continued job growth across the economy.
Sector Growth and Entry-Level Opportunities
Ministry of Manpower data showed total employment growth in 2025, led by financial and insurance services, as well as health and social services. Entry-level vacancies rose sharply to 39,000 in September 2025, up from 26,000 a year earlier. However, sectors such as information and communications experienced slower hiring due to global market uncertainty.
Employers Shift Focus From Credentials to Skills
RecruitHaus Strategic Partnership Manager Karen Lim said hiring practices now emphasize practical skills over academic qualifications. Employers increasingly expect internship experience, portfolios, and job-ready competencies. Graduates are also taking longer to secure roles as companies become more selective and precise in their hiring decisions.
Flexibility, Freelancing, and Career Experimentation
The survey highlighted a growing openness among graduates toward freelance, contract, and entrepreneurial work. Many view these paths as opportunities to gain experience, diversify income, and better understand their industries. Graduates are also encouraged to continue upskilling, particularly in digital literacy, data awareness, and communication.
Internships as a Pathway to Employment
Ngee Ann Polytechnic graduate Natasha Kannan, 23, secured a full-time training executive role at Fujitec after completing an internship there in 2024. She credited cross-departmental exposure for broadening her skills and career outlook. Alongside work, she is pursuing a part-time degree, underscoring how work-study pathways continue to support career progression.
The 2025 Graduate Employment Survey signals cautious optimism for polytechnic graduates in Singapore. While competition has intensified and hiring expectations have shifted, stable employment rates, rising wages, and growing entry-level opportunities show a labor market adapting rather than contracting. These trends offer valuable insights for Indonesians and Singaporeans navigating similar workforce transitions in a skills-driven regional economy.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , India Times (2026)
Keywords: Polytechnic Graduates, Graduate Employment Survey, Entry Level Jobs, Singapore Labor Market
