SkillsFuture helps older workers close skills gaps, says Chan Chun Sing

Continued learning to hone skills will enable them to stay competitive, says minister

- Elisha Tushara

Older cohorts of students did not have the opportunities that the education system now offers, said Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing.

Younger Singaporeans have benefited from improvements in the system over the years, and a higher proportion of them have completed tertiary education.

Because of this cohort effect, older working adults should continue learning through relevant and quality SkillsFuture programmes to help them hone their skills and remain competitive, said Mr Chan.

With SkillsFuture having met its target of 500,000 people attending its courses every year, "the next phase of the programme is not numbers, but the quality of the programmes", said the minister. "It's not about chasing degrees or diplomas; it's about the just-in-time modules."

Mr Chan was commenting on the results of the latest Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies released on Dec 10. The study of adult skills was conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 31 countries from 2022 to 2023.

While younger Singaporean adults scored above the OECD average, the older generation lagged behind, with below-average performance. This was especially so among those aged 55 to 65.