Singapore is rolling out a structured support system for retrenched and involuntarily unemployed workers, ensuring they don’t just receive financial aid but also gain practical assistance in securing their next job.

The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, first introduced at the 2024 National Day Rally, will provide financial payouts to eligible job seekers – up to S$6,000 (US$4,500) over six months.

There’s a caveat, however: recipients must actively participate in job search activities.

Announcing the details in Parliament today, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon framed the scheme as “more than just financial payouts”. The scheme is designed to equip job seekers with a structured path towards re-employment by offering both financial relief and professional guidance, he said.

A roadmap back to employment

The scheme follows a graduated approach, encouraging job seekers to engage in progressively structured job search activities.

Month 1: Job seekers can update their CVs, attend career fairs, utilise the CareersFinder tool on the MyCareersFuture portal, and participate in career coaching sessions.

Month 2: To qualify for continued support, they must read two employment-related articles, attend a workshop, apply for at least four jobs, and complete a training course.

Months 4–6: To sustain their eligibility, applicants must submit at least five job applications per month.

This activities-based system, curated through user research, is meant to boost confidence and guide individuals towards re-employment.

Dr Koh said: “Through these touchpoints, jobseekers will be more assured that they are on the right track to re-entering employment.”

Details of the application process will be available when Workforce Singapore launches the scheme in mid-April.

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Government support meets personal initiative

“The government will support you through difficult times, while you take personal responsibility and make an effort to overcome career setbacks and bounce back stronger,” Dr Koh said.

The programme will initially cater to Singaporean citizens from April and expand to cover permanent residents in early 2026. The focus is on lower- and middle-income workers.

Applicants must be 21 or older and have earned an average monthly salary of $5,000 or less before job loss.

They must have become unemployed due to retrenchment, company closure, dismissal, or termination due to illness or injury.

To ensure support reaches those in need, only individuals residing in properties with an annual value of $31,000 or less will qualify.

The government has set aside $200 million for the scheme, which is expected to benefit around 60,000 individuals annually. It covers over 60% of those who lose their jobs involuntarily.

An integrated support network

The jobseeker support scheme does not exist in isolation; instead, it complements other financial aid and career development initiatives.

For instance, retrenched workers enrolling in long-form training can apply for both this scheme and the SkillsFuture Level-Up programme, securing up to $21,000 over six months ($15,000 in training allowances + $6,000 in jobseeker payouts). Those facing severe financial difficulties can also seek additional aid through ComCare.

Dr Koh acknowledged the emotional toll of job loss, considering how jobseekers sometimes struggle financially and with the loss of identity and self-worth.

“Being retrenched can have a profound emotional impact, often triggering a mix of shock, fear, anger and even shame,” he said.

The structured jobseeking process, combined with career coaching and guidance, aims to restore confidence and help individuals re-enter the workforce with renewed purpose.

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Career navigation for the employed

Apart from supporting people’s job search, career development is also a priority for those currently employed.

Dr Koh highlighted the Polaris programme, which provides personalised career coaching at a fee of $40 or $90. Since its launch in November 2023, over 620 workers have reportedly benefitted from it, with 90% reporting clearer career direction and improved confidence.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng reinforced Singapore’s commitment to lifelong learning. Citing the OECD’s Survey of Adult Skills, he warned that Singaporeans’ literacy skills begin to decline by their mid-thirties, signalling the need for continuous upskilling.

The government is scaling up employer-led training through the NTUC Company Training Committee Grant, in which $200 million has been earmarked to help companies develop structured training pathways that lead to formal qualifications.

Building workforce resilience

Singapore’s approach to workforce resilience is multi-pronged to ensure workers – whether retrenched, employed, or midcareer – have access to structured support systems that help them navigate career transitions and skill gaps.

With the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, running alongside Polaris, SkillsFuture Level-Up, and employer-led training grants, the government aims to empower workers to take control of their career trajectories.

As Dr Koh put it: “Workers must also play their part to proactively upkeep their skills, regularly review their career plans and seize good opportunities at every stage of their careers.”