~ NTUC and e2i to bring career guidance and resources to graduating youths through career readiness workshops, career fairs by IHLs and e2i’s career fairs~
~ Over 800 on-site interviews were conducted at three youth-focused career fairs in July ~
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is marking 21 years of youth development through NTUC Youth, underscoring its long-standing commitment to supporting young Singaporeans as they transition from school to work. As youths enter a rapidly evolving employment landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, NTUC is stepping up support through a series of targeted initiatives to strengthen job matching, career guidance and workforce readiness – ensuring they have the support needed to build a strong foundation for their careers.
These initiatives were shared at NTUC Youth’s 21st Anniversary Appreciation Dinner by Guest-of-Honour, NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng, who also reaffirmed NTUC’s commitment to supporting youth as they prepare for and enter the workforce. Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment also attended the dinner as Special Guest.
NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng said, “Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, jobs and the skills employers are looking for. While it will create new opportunities, it is also changing how young people enter and navigate the workforce. For graduating youths, this can make the transition from school to work more uncertain. That is why NTUC is stepping up support early, even before they graduate, to help them build the skills, confidence, and networks to seize the right opportunities, and importantly, to connect with employers. We want our youths to be prepared not just for their first job, but for a future of continuous learning, adaptation and growth.”
Strengthening School-to-Work Transition
To prepare graduating youth for the workforce, NTUC's e2i is helping them to discover career possibilities, gain greater clarity on career pathways aligned to their interests and strengths, and connect with opportunities that match their aspirations through personalised career coaching and guidance, as well as self-help tools such as the NTUC AI Career Coach (AICC). These resources allow youths to access support in ways that best suit their needs and make informed career decisions.
e2i also works closely with employers and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to connect youth with suitable opportunities through e2i-organised career fairs, workshops and participation in IHL career fairs. Across three youth-focused events organised in July, over 50 employers offering about 300 entry-level roles with more than 900 vacancies suitable for first jobbers and young professionals were curated across sectors ranging from technology and cybersecurity, to engineering, finance, and other professional services. Graduates across IHLs attended these fairs, with over 800 on-site interviews conducted. This direct access to employers and employment opportunities helps youths take concrete steps forward in their transition from school to work.
Beyond helping youths secure their first jobs, NTUC Youth and NTUC PME also provide support to first jobbers who require different resources compared to those who are still in school. For instance, NTUC PME’s “Masterclass in a Company” programme provide first jobbers with the opportunity to learn directly from leading employers and glean practical insights into industry trends, future skills and career opportunities, while NTUC Youth organises regular Networking Nights to help first jobbers expand their professional network and stay updated on industry developments so that they can progress confidently in their careers.
Preparing In-School Youths for the Workforce
NTUC is also strengthening efforts to prepare youths while they are still in school. As the nature of work continues to evolve, students require more than just academic knowledge; they need exposure and leadership skills to navigate the workplace. To this end, NTUC Youth will increase the intake for the third iteration of the NTUC Starter Awards programme by 50 per cent, bringing the total number of awardees to 150. Since its pilot in 2024, 135 students have benefitted from the programme.
The Starter Awards programme will also expand to Nanyang Technological University, bringing the total number of partner Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to nine, and strengthening NTUC Youth's efforts to nurture the next generation of young leaders across Singapore. More details on the application are available in Annex A.
NTUC Youth has also developed other programmes to prepare in-school youth for the workforce. These include NTUC Youth Ready to EXCEL Masterclasses, NTUC Youth Case Challenge and NTUC Youth Industry Day, which equip youths with workplace, leadership and problem-solving skills. More information on these programmes is available in Annex B.
Today’s youths are among the first generation to start and build their careers in an AI-enabled economy. Through initiatives such as NTUC AI-Ready SG, NTUC is helping them build AI literacy, access curated training and AI tools through the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP), and develop the skills needed to adapt to a changing world of work.
Beyond Campus and Careers: Empowering Youth Voices and Leadership
Over the past 21 years, NTUC Youth has championed youth voices, developed platforms to nurture youth leadership and strengthened support for youths as they navigate school, work and life, In the last three years, NTUC Youth has also expanded its engagement with youth and impacted over 16,000 youth through its programmes and initiatives.
As NTUC Youth celebrates their 21st Anniversary, it is reaffirming its commitment to supporting and empowering youth as they step into an evolving world of work through a series of Career Fitness Roadshows. Themed “Your Career Fitness Starts Here!”, the experiential roadshow activations will be brought to IHLs and public spaces to help youth to understand how they can train for their future self and take steps towards career fitness.
Beyond jobs and career development, NTUC Youth is also creating opportunities for youth to shape the conversations and solutions around issues that affect their generation. One example is the Youth Champions Project, which brought together 10 youths from diverse backgrounds to explore the topics of quality internships and workforce challenges. Throughout the project, NTUC equipped the youths with skills, tools and mentorship to strengthen their ability to conduct research, engage stakeholders, and develop meaningful recommendations. They were also given opportunities to engage peers, employers and industry stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of workforce challenges from multiple perspectives.
As it embarks on its next chapter, NTUC Youth will continue to evolve and co-create its programmes with youth to meet their changing aspirations and the evolving needs of the workforce. Together with partners from the Labour Movement, employers, IHLs and tripartite partners, NTUC Youth remains committed to helping youth build the skills, experiences and networks needed to start right, progress confidently and play an active role in shaping Singapore’s future workforce.
