Singapore studying ways to better support at-risk workers before job losses: Desmond Choo

Singapore already has resilient sectors with strong growth prospects such as healthcare, which is expected to continue expanding as the population ages, noted Mr Choo, who co-chairs the ESR committee on managing the impact of restructuring.

The challenge is helping workers move from occupations threatened by disruption into industries that are better positioned for the future, he added. 

This includes identifying transferable skills and providing support to help workers bridge any remaining gaps. 

“We need to move into that, so that our people have more choices,” said Mr Choo. 

Such efforts will require a detailed, sector-by-sector and occupation-by-occupation approach, he added. 

“This is where we need to be, because if we don’t involve ourselves that deeply, then our workers cannot get the confidence to make the transition.”

Another recommendation is to strengthen support schemes for professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) navigating career transitions. 

Mr Choo said Singapore should build on initiatives such as the jobseeker support scheme by broadening and deepening assistance, “so that our workers have the confidence that as (they) transit to different things, (they) will not be left alone”.