500,000 Individuals and 14,000 Enterprises Benefitted from SkillsFuture Programmes in 2019

More Singaporeans and enterprises are tapping on SkillsFuture initiatives, with about 500,000 individuals and 14,000 enterprises benefitting from various programmes in 2019. This is an increase from about 465,000 individuals and 12,000 enterprises in 2018. The working adult training participation rate, according to the Ministry of Manpower Labour Force 2019 report, has also increased to 48.5 percent in 2019, a significant growth from 35 percent in 2015. 

In 2019, 86 percent of over 43,000 trainees surveyed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) using the Training Quality and Outcomes Measurement system, indicated that they were able to perform their work better after training.  

More individuals taking up training to keep their skills relevant

Since the launch of the SkillsFuture Credit in 2016, more than half a million Singaporeans have utilised their SkillsFuture Credit. The top three areas of training have been Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Food and Beverage, and Productivity and Innovation. About 124,000 individuals also tapped on the enhanced support in 2019, such as the Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy and Enhanced Training Support for SMEs, to support their training needs, an increase from about 114,000 individuals in 2018.  

In 2019, sign-ups for courses remained strong for priority and emerging skills in areas such as urban solutions, data analytics and advanced manufacturing. More than 37,000 individuals took courses under the SkillsFuture Series, up from over 28,000 in 2018. Popular SkillsFuture Series courses include NICF – Certified ScrumMaster (Urban Solutions – Advanced), Alibaba Global Course (Data Analytics – Intermediate) and Appreciation of IoT and Data Management (Advanced Manufacturing – Basic). Additionally, about 36,000 individuals participated in the SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace programme in 2019 as compared to about 21,000 individuals in 2018. 

MySkillsFuture portal received about 4.5 million visits in 2019 from individuals who sought information about SkillsFuture programmes. Additionally, SkillsFuture Advice workshops were organised for more than 54,000 individuals in 2019 to help them better plan their training needs, compared to about 46,000 individuals in 2018.  

Increase in uptake of Work-Study Programmes

There continues to be an increase in the uptake of the SkillsFuture Work-Study programmes for students from the Institute of Technical Education, Polytechnics and Autonomous Universities. About 2,200 Singaporeans embarked on various Work-Study programmes in 2019 to gain valuable work and industry experience while pursuing academic and work qualifications. This is an increase from about 1,700 participants in 2018. 

Enterprises Adopting the Skills Framework to improve their employees’ training development

SSG rolled out eight new Skills Frameworks in 2019 – (i) Design, (ii) Engineering Services, (iii) Financial Services, (iv) Healthcare, (v) Intellectual Property, (vi) Landscape, (vii) Social Services, and (viii) Workplace Safety and Health.  A total of 33 Skills Frameworks are now in place.  

“I am pleased to report that the SkillsFuture movement continued to make good progress in 2019. More Singaporeans and enterprises are benefitting from various SkillsFuture programmes. The vast majority of those who participate in SSG-funded training reported good outcomes. We will continue to partner employers, industry partners and training providers to enhance the relevance and accessibility of skills training for Singaporeans,” said Mr Ong Tze-Ch’in, Chief Executive of SSG.

SkillsFuture Year-In-Review 2019