New CDC Job-Matching Drive May Bring Overlooked Front-Line Roles Closer to Applicants, Say Experts

The new job-matching initiative by the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) complements existing measures by bringing local jobs closer to residents, said industry observers.

- Tay Hong Yi

Though details are pending, they expect front-line roles in residential areas — often overlooked by job seekers — to feature prominently.

Labour policy expert Terence Ho said the initiative will likely feature many front-line roles, with job types varying across the districts.

Associate Professor Ho, deputy executive director of the Institute for Adult Learning, noted that career centres run by Workforce Singapore and the National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) already serve job seekers.

He added: "A key indication of success is whether the scheme succeeds in raising placement rates among job seekers with constraints on mobility or time who may need to find work closer to their homes, as well as whether it encourages higher labour force participation among such groups."

The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the 2025 National Day Rally on Aug 17.