The Era of Job Dating? It's All About Matching Employers and Talent

The success of Singapore's employment strategy hinges on how quickly we connect, adapt and seize opportunities.

- Lin Weiqiang

Few anxieties loom larger in Singapore today than jobs. In his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong acknowledged this unease, citing a global economy riven by tariffs and a technological wave reshaping careers.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in particular has unsettled young workers, with preliminary data showing graduates struggling to secure jobs after completing tertiary education. Unlike earlier waves of automation, AI is no longer limited to repetitive tasks. It writes reports, recognizes faces, and even makes investment decisions—capabilities that cut across industries once thought safe from disruption.

As a city-state with only one urban centre, our workforce depends on businesses' faith in the ingenuity of its people. An over-reliance on AI not only crimps companies' hiring needs, but also leaves successive generations of workers undertrained for leadership positions, setting in motion a vicious circle.

Against this backdrop, three initiatives announced to shore up employment take on sharper relevance: a new government-funded traineeship programme targeted at young job seekers; a new job-matching initiative administered by the five local Community Development Councils (CDCs); and an enhanced SkillsFuture Level-Up programme.

At a time when many feel disillusioned by endless job searches and unanswered applications, these initiatives offer a way forward. They create avenues for employers and job seekers to connect more effectively, ensuring talent is matched with opportunity where it is needed most.

NOT JUST A STOPGAP

On the government-funded traineeship programme, PM Wong had mentioned in his speech that this was in fact not new in Singapore, but had been trialled during the Covid-19 pandemic.