Singapore's aerospace sector is hiring: new growth opportunities in view, says Manpower Minister

Aerospace companies in Singapore are planning to hire for over 1,000 positions in the next two years, according to Minister for Manpower Dr. Tan See Leng. Speaking at JTC's Aerospace Day event on 11 October, he said that despite the pandemic's impact on the aerospace industry - which included a slew of layoffs last year as flights were grounded - companies in the city-state have managed to somewhat adapt and pivot their activities, and are now ready to make a comeback.

The companies hiring include Pratt & Whitney, which laid off 400 employees in Singapore last year amid massive job cuts worldwide but is now looking to fill 250 positions by the end of 2021. GE Aviation and Bombardier, which also laid off thousands of employees globally last year, have also announced they are hiring in Singapore again. Local engineering group ST Engineering is also hiring 200 aviation professionals. 

According to the minister, the outlook for the aerospace sector is positive and there are three potential growth areas: digital services, autonomous technology, and sustainability. He said that companies pursuing these fronts have a "strong talent pool" available, citing local aerospace courses which produce around 2,000 graduates a year and government-driven career conversion programmes which can help mid-career professionals transition into the sector.

The companies currently hiring for aerospace jobs appear to primarily be replacing the manpower they laid off last year, with their websites advertising positions such as aircraft technicians and service engineers.