Mr Colin Koh, Chairman, Singapore Professional Centre

Ms Dilys Yong, President, HQ Link

Ladies and Gentlemen

Strong economic growth and need for a skilled workforce

1.  Singapore’s economy has done well last year achieving a 6.4% growth.  110,800 new jobs were created - the highest number since year 2000.  The growth of the economy was underpinned by the good performance of many industries.

2. The manufacturing sector grew by 9.3%.  The Manufacturing 2018 Vision has set a target to double total manufacturing output to $300 billion, and create 15,000 new manufacturing jobs each year.  Within manufacturing, many sub-sectors were also doing well.  Biomedical industries, for example, grew by 11% and the Biopolis is bustling with activities and offering many new jobs.  In precision engineering, the outlook is also bright as our companies continue to secure good contracts and expand their activities. 

3.  The services engine is up and running too.  In tourism, we registered the 8.9 million tourist arrivals in 2005, the highest number ever.  Hotel occupancies are up, retail shops and restaurants are doing brisk business.  Moving forward, even more jobs will be created as we realise the various major tourism products – such as the integrated resorts, the Singapore Flyer and new luxury hotels.  We are rejuvenating Orchard Road and developing new retail concepts such as the VivoCity, a 1.1 million square feet mall in the Southern part of Singapore.  With all these developments, Singapore is regaining its position as a key Asian tourist destination.  By 2015, Singapore Tourist Board hopes to see 100,000 new jobs created, tourism receipts tripled to $30 billion and visitor arrivals doubled to 17 million.

4. In financial services, we are strengthening our position as a leading financial centre of Asia.  Many other sectors are doing well: health care, security, landscaping, transport, logistics, chemical processing and others.  They will need more workers. 

5. We have been able to create these new and better jobs for Singaporeans because the Government has adopted rational policies to restructure the economy and to promote economic growth.  Singaporeans who are prepared to work hard and adapt will be able to find jobs. 

Building a skilled pool of workers

6. However, for the economic growth to be sustainable, we need to ensure that there is a supply of workers with relevant skills needed by the growing industries.  That is why the Government is investing in the education and training of our workers. We do this through pre-employment education system, as well as the adult continuous education and training system.

7. In the pre-employment education system, our schools provide students with a wide range of choices, to suit their interest and aptitudes.  We offer flexible pathways to suit their individual abilities.  In post secondary education, ITE, polytechnics and the universities equip our young with the skills and knowledge that are relevant to the economy, and prepare them well for their working life.

8.  For the working adults, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has put in place many programmes to help workers upgrade their skills, or prepare themselves for new jobs in different industries.  The centrepiece of WDA’s programmes is the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications system (WSQ) announced recently.  It is a set of qualifications that is designed by the industry, for the industry and pegged to international standards and best practices. With WSQ, all our workers will have something tangible to look forward to, whether they are production operators, hotel attendants, waiters, retail assistants, chefs, security guards, or even IT specialists.  If they work hard, attend training and acquire the skills, they can attain nationally recognised qualifications, which would open new career opportunities for them. 

9. With the WSQ, lack of formal academic qualifications will no longer be an obstacle to pursue higher skills qualification.  The WSQ is an open and accessible system that recognises previous work experience.  It emphasises on competencies, that is, whether the worker can perform the task and do the job, rather than his academic scores. 

10.  The WSQ for the retail, finance and training sectors has been introduced.  The retail WSQ, since its launch last year, has trained more than 2,300 people to become skilled and competent workers.  A boutique store assistant with a WSQ certificate for retail will not just know how to operate a cash register, but will also know how to present himself, coordinate visual displays, understand the finer aspects of managing customers effectively and make a sale.  In other words, he can multi-task, thereby adding more value to his company.

11.  To implement WSQ for the retail trade effectively, WDA and Nanyang Polytechnic have worked together to set up the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS).  Around 400 trainees have benefited from the training provided since the institute commenced operation in January this year.  I invite all retailers to tap on the services offered by the SIRS to meet your manpower needs.

12.  Soon, we will introduce more skills and qualification frameworks, training programmes and infrastructure to help workers upgrade themselves and build their careers.  This includes sectors such as tourism, food and beverage (F&B), infocomm and precision engineering, which are currently being worked on.    Other sectors which we would commence work on shortly include chemical processing, logistics, bio-medical sciences, aerospace and professional and community services. To strengthen our service capabilities, we are developing a service excellence framework. In this regard, we would welcome companies and industry associations to come forth and work with us to define qualification standards, strengthen the training infrastructure, and raise the professionalism of the respective sectors. 

Conclusion -  A Vibrant Job Market

13.  Beyond generating the demand and ensuring the supply of skilled workers, we need an effective labour market that could match the needs of both employers and workers. This is where employment agencies, search firms and career counsellors can play a positive role to sustain the dynamism and vibrancy of the job market.  This is where the Singapore Professional Centre (SPC) comes in by organising CAREER 2006. 

14. CAREER 2006 is an excellent platform for students, workers and businesses to come together, interact and explore new opportunities.  This year, more than 15,000 jobs are available at this fair - in engineering, aerospace, marine and offshore, bio-technology, tourism and many more sectors. In the tourism, retail and F&B sectors, more than 1,300 vacancies are available for positions such as visual merchandisers, retail supervisors, chefs, visitor services managers, conference producers, operations managers and many others.  The spa industry alone is projected to create 200 jobs for therapists in the next two years and recruitment will take place from today as part of WDA’s Place and Train programme.  If you would like to be a facial, massage or spa therapist, but have no clue on how to go about becoming one with certifiable skills, you can approach the ‘Tourism, MICE, Retail and F&B’ pavilion for help.

15. Keeping the skills of our workforce relevant to growing industries, and helping our workers play a part in our nation’s progress, requires a collective effort.  We need the contribution of training institutions, industry associations, companies, unions, and also professional organisations such as the SPC. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate SPC for staging a successful exhibition and I wish all exhibitors and visitors a rewarding time at CAREER 2006.

16. Thank you.