SkillsFuture Year-In-Review 2024: Learners Shift to More Career-Relevant Training with the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme

More Singaporeans are taking up courses designed with employment objectives in mind, with the introduction of the SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) top-up on 1 May 2024.

This top-up can be used for courses including: (a) Full Qualifications and stackables offered by the Institutes of Higher Learning; (b) SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes, to help mid-careerists move to a different field of career; and (c) courses designed to meet progression requirements under the Progressive Wage Model. The number of Singaporeans taking up such courses increased by about 20%, from 95,000 in 2023 to 112,000 in 2024.

Overall, the number of learners who participated in SSG-supported training increased from about 520,000 in 2023 to 555,000 in 2024.

More Support for Individuals to Pursue Career-Relevant Training 

In 2024, 260,000 Singaporeans used their SkillsFuture Credit, a 35% increase from 192,000 in 2023. Of this group, 28,000 Singaporeans tapped on their SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career), which was introduced in 2024 for mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 years and above, to pursue a substantive skills reboot. About 1.05 million Singaporeans, or 37% of all Singaporeans, have used their SkillsFuture Credit since it was first introduced in 2016.

Among those who have not done so, some are receiving training support from their employers. For example, among Singaporeans aged 30 to 59, about 44% have used their SkillsFuture Credit to take up SSG-supported courses, while another 14% are sponsored by their employers to take up these courses.

SSG-supported learners are pursuing industry-relevant courses. For example, more SSG-supported learners (from 34,000 in 2023 to 96,000 in 2024) are taking up IT-related courses, in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and digital marketing. This reflects both the rapid digitalisation across a broad spectrum of sectors in our economy, as well as the pace of change in the IT domain.

We have also introduced more courses that support career transitions, to facilitate the mobility of the workforce. In particular, the number of SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) courses increased from 179 in 2023 to 239 in 2024, to better serve mid-career workers in transitioning into in-demand sectors.

To better support the diverse learning needs of working adults, SSG expanded the range of SkillsFuture Credit-eligible online learning options last year, adding two new platforms – Udemy Business and Coursera. More Singaporeans made use of these online learning options, with the number of SkillsFuture Credit claims for online learning subscriptions and courses increasing tenfold, from 266 in 2023 to 2,655 in 2024.

Higher Employer Engagement in Training and Skills-First Practices

In 2024, more employers (24,000 enterprises as compared to 23,000 in 2023) supported more employees (241,000 employees as compared to 228,000 in 2023) to participate in SSG-supported training, reflecting the relevance of SSG-supported training to enterprise needs.

Among the 24,000 employers who sent employees for SSG-supported training, 95% were SMEs, which generally require greater more support in workforce development. We continue to provide support in:

1. Improving digital access to training resources through the SkillsFuture for Business portal. The portal has seen a 49% increase in users from 2023, with total page views surpassing 4.7 million.

2. Enhancing the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) to make it more accessible for companies. 5,200 employers tapped into their SFEC for SSG-supported training for the first time in 2024. As announced during this year’s Budget, all companies with at least three resident employees will receive a fresh $10,000 in the redesigned SFEC, which will be available from the second half of 2026 and will last for three years. In the meantime, companies with existing credit can continue to use it.

3. Leveraging the strength and influence of leading industry players. A total of 37 companies have been appointed as SkillsFuture Queen Bee companies across various sectors. Over 5,200 enterprises, of which nearly 80% are SMEs, have benefitted from the skills advisory support and curated training solutions provided or recommended by the SkillsFuture Queen Bee companies. More companies are coming forward, with four new companies appointed in 2024: AETOS Holdings, FoodXervices Inc, Sembcorp Solar, and ST Engineering Land Systems.

Employers are tapping SkillsFuture initiatives to adopt skills-first hiring practices, such as identifying and articulating their skills needs. This is important as it signals the in-demand skills to both individuals and training providers. SSG also works closely with industry intermediaries to strengthen sectoral skills development pathways. For instance, the Skills Pathway for Cybersecurity, developed in collaboration with SSG’s Skills Development Partner, the Singapore Computer Society, have created a clearer career roadmap for the cybersecurity sector. To date, over 100 individuals have been placed in jobs or internships with participating employers through this initiative. We will continue to expand our partnerships with the Skills Development Partners to provide more of such pathways for individuals, in various sectors and professions.

Training Sector Committed to Raising Quality and Relevance

We are committed to training quality, and closely monitor learners’ feedback and employment outcomes of SSG-supported training. In 2024, when asked if their SSG-supported training improved work performance, 69% of learners responded with the highest rating, as opposed to 65% in 2023. Additionally, 64% (62% in 2023) attributed advancements in their careers to their courses. Over 84% (78% in 2023) of the surveyed participants also confirmed that the learning and insights gained were transferable to their work. Among the 14,000 individuals who have enrolled in SCTP courses, 54%¹ secured employment within six months of completing their training.

Training providers are expected to consistently review and raise training standards, to ensure positive training quality and outcomes. They must undergo the Training Provider Quality Assessment (TPQA) and pass the evaluation to maintain eligibility for SSG funding. In 2024, about 15% of audited training providers were either terminated or chose to withdraw due to reasons of quality. Stricter criteria on course renewal were also introduced, requiring courses to meet standards of performance and industry relevance to stay funded. Courses that do poorly will not be renewed for funding or may be removed from the course directory before the end of their validity and be required to make improvements before re-applying. These measures underscore SSG's commitment to deliver quality courses and impactful learning experiences.

Mr Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SSG, said, “With the introduction of the SkillsFuture Credit(Mid-Career) top-up, we have seen a shift in the training demand, towards training designed to achieve substantive employability outcomes and improve the individual’s career health. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the SkillsFuture Movement, we are heartened to have the strong support from unions, employers, professional bodies and trade associations. This Movement is a social compact that we are all a part of, to keep Singaporeans resilient and adaptable in uncertain economic times. To this end, a suite of complementary measures is being put in place, including a second subsidised full-time diploma, the Jobseeker Support Scheme, and the full-time and part-time Training Allowance, to leave no worker behind. On SSG’s part, we will do our utmost to ensure that adult learning is of high quality and of great relevance to meet our workers’ and employers’ needs."

¹ For SCTP courses completed up to 30 June 2024.

View Infographic here.