Singapore’s SkillsFuture Movement

This essay is included in the new book from the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF: The Future of Work for the People we Serve. To sign up for the launch of the book as well as a conference on the future of work and inequality, click here!

Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Education, Singapore

The future of work is set to be much more dynamic, continually transformed by technological advances and business model innovations. As a result, we will continue to see a proliferation of new jobs which had never been heard of fifteen years ago. The workforce faces increased demands for new knowledge and skills, especially digital and data-related competencies.

A key enabler to Singapore’s success as a city-state is to develop our only natural resource, our people. Singapore’s continued success will depend on developing a skilled and nimble workforce that can adapt quickly to change, backed by a culture of lifelong learning and skills upgrading.

SkillsFuture – A National Strategy

Singapore launched the SkillsFuture1 movement in 2015. SkillsFuture serves wider economic imperatives, as a national skills strategy to transform our industries and boost Singapore’s economic competitiveness. Through SkillsFuture, we provide Singaporeans with opportunities to develop to their fullest potential regardless of their starting point in life. This is achieved through substantial investments in education, skills mastery and lifelong learning. The movement involves collaboration amongst multiple stakeholders, including individuals, employers, industry associations, unions, training providers and government agencies.

The four key thrusts of SkillsFuture are:

• Help individuals make well-informed choices in education, training and careers;
• Develop an integrated high quality system of education and training that responds to constantly evolving needs;
• Promote employer recognition and career development based on skills and mastery; and
• Foster a culture that supports and celebrates lifelong learning.

Fostering Lifelong Learning through SkillsFuture

A major task is to shift away from an education system that relies on front-loading within the first two decades of an individual’s life, towards continuing education and learning over a lifetime. In most countries, education up to tertiary levels is subsidised. However, many state education budgets do not specifically cater for adult education and lifelong learning. Companies and individuals are largely responsible for the costs of designing and implementing adult training.

As the pace of change in industry and turnover of skills intensifies, this approach is no longer adequate in preparing our workers to be future-ready. Hence, we have significantly increased government expenditure on continuing education and training, and made skills upgrading and lifelong learning much more accessible and affordable for our workers. Through supply-side funding, generous government subsidies are provided for skills training, supported by co-funding from employers and individuals. The subsidies are tiered, with higher levels of subsidy for targeted segments such as low-wage workers and mature workers. Employees of small and medium enterprises also receive higher levels of subsidy.

To catalyse a culture of lifelong learning in Singapore, the government provides a SkillsFuture account for all Singaporeans aged 25 years and above. Each person receives an initial credit of S$500 in his account, which is also known as the SkillsFuture Credit. Individuals can use this credit to offset the post-subsidy fees for approved training programmes offered by both public and private training providers. The account has no expiry date. We have seen encouraging progress since the initiative started in 2016, with Singapore’s resident labour force training participation rate rising from 35% in 2015 to 47% in 2017.

Upskilling through SkillsFuture Training Programmes

Subsidy policies in SkillsFuture are complemented by a wide range of SkillsFuture initiatives and programmes, which have been designed to encourage individuals to embrace lifelong learning and skills mastery at different stages of their learning and career journeys. For example, students are exposed to experiential learning opportunities through enhanced internships at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics. At the universities, the SkillsFuture Work Study Degree Programmes offer curricula that combine institution-based learning with structured on-the-job training in participating companies.

To provide fresh graduates from ITE and the polytechnics with a head-start in their careers, the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programmes offer them careers related to their field of study, where they undergo structured workplace learning and mentorship, leading to industry-recognised certifications. ITE graduates also have access to the SkillsFuture Work-Learn Technical Diploma programmes, an apprenticeship-based training pathway developed together with the industry.

Singapore has launched a national SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace programme. This is a two-day course that helps Singaporeans acquire basic digital skills. For those who are ready to deepen their skills in areas such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, we have developed a list of short, industry-relevant training courses (known as the SkillsFuture Series) with a focus on these emerging skills areas.

Skills for the Future Economy and Industry Transformation Maps

Our national skills strategy in the form of SkillsFuture is key in supporting overall industry transformation for Singapore’s future economy.  The Future Economy Council (FEC) was set up in 2017 comprising of representatives from the Government, private sector, unions, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Trade Association and Chambers (TACs) – with a focus on growing and transforming Singapore’s economy in three key areas of work:

• Grow a vibrant and open economy that is connected to the world;
• Strengthen our enterprises through industry-specific transformations to help them grow, innovate and scale up; and
• Help Singaporeans acquire and utilise deep skills so as to take up quality jobs and seize opportunities in the future economy, and facilitate the building of a resilient and flexible workforce and great workplaces.

The FEC also oversees the development and implementation of the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs).  These are integrated sectoral roadmaps to guide and align efforts in lifelong learning and skills development with the existing and future needs of our industries. Each ITM is developed by the Government in collaboration with firms, industries, trade associations and chambers, bringing together all relevant stakeholders to examine the industry landscape, future trends and skills needs. The aim is to systemically raise productivity, develop future skills, drive innovation and promote internationalisation.

SkillsFuture’s strategies in workforce upgrading take reference from the ITMs as well as the corresponding Skills Frameworks for each sector. Under the jobs and skills pillar of the ITMs, the Government, employers, education and training providers, industry associations and unions have been actively involved in the development of the Skills Frameworks. These detail the skills needed for specific job roles within each sector, which provide information for career and skills development.

Conclusion

SkillsFuture is a national transformative journey which requires the collective effort of individuals, employers, unions, schools, training providers and the Government. It is a responsive and nimble movement that aims to build a culture of lifelong learning and skills mastery. It is building a future where Singaporeans will take ownership of our skills development to seize opportunities in a dynamic and innovation-driven economy. It is a major investment in our people to prepare them for the future, not just in school but also through continuing education and training throughout their lives.

We have only just started the SkillsFuture journey in Singapore. There remains much to be done in the years ahead, and there are many areas where we can learn from and collaborate with other countries.