21 April 2018
A recent survey conducted by the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in partnership with Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, showed that there remains a very small percentage of graduates in Singapore who remain severely underemployed, earning less than S$2,000 per month despite working full-time.
It was found that the underemployed graduates are typically female and have a median age of 35 years. They came largely from the health and social services sectors, followed by financial services, transport and education sectors.
Being underemployed over a longer term can also lead to a vicious cycle because these workers may lose the drive and confidence to update their skills and remain relevant to the job market. Over time, they may feel trapped in their current jobs and become increasingly pessimistic.
To find a solution to the problem, a targeted approach that combines career counselling for these underemployed, encouragement to look for better jobs matching their skills and qualifications, and initiatives to get employers to look past age and gender in their hiring practices are needed.
The government should also find ways to provide more assistance to those who health has affected their work to the extent of them becoming underemployed.