SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Manpower, SkillsFuture Singapore, and Jobstreet by SEEK have entered into a landmark collaboration to enhance career development opportunities for Singapore’s workforce.

At the heart of this partnership is SEEK Pass, a digital credential verification system designed to streamline hiring processes and empower job seekers with verified employment credentials.

The initiative falls under the broader Career Health SG programme, which aims to help workers build resilient and fulfilling careers while enabling employers to tap into a broader talent pool through skills-first hiring.

The importance of building career health

As competition for jobs intensifies, with a 146% surge in applications per job posting in 2024, the government sees career health as critical to Singapore’s evolving labour market.

The Forward SG Report underscores the need for agility and resilience in the workforce, especially as technological advancements create both disruption and new opportunities.

To this end, the Singapore government is actively engaging with private sector players like Jobstreet to drive the Career Health SG initiative forward.

A key feature of this partnership is SEEK Pass, which allows job seekers to securely verify and share their credentials, reducing hiring friction for both candidates and employers.

The system integrates with the Careers & Skills Passport, a government-backed repository of employment history, skills, and certifications, rolled out by MOM and SSG in November 2024.

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SEEK Pass aims to accelerate the hiring process and level the playing field for job seekers to ensure that qualifications and skills take centre stage in recruitment decisions. For a start, SEEK Pass will verify employment history, with plans to expand its capabilities over time.

Beyond keeping employment records, Jobstreet is partnering with Accredify to further enhance SEEK Pass by incorporating verified educational qualifications from participating universities. This move is expected to make it easier for employers to identify top talent while giving candidates a competitive edge.

“With the surge in job applications in 2024, SEEK Pass addresses the need for efficient hiring processes and empowers candidates to stand out,” said Vic Sithasanan, Managing Director, Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore.

“Our collaboration with MOM, SSG, and Accredify ensures SEEK Pass is tailored to Singapore’s unique needs and complements innovations like Career Hub, our learning and community platform for career growth and upskilling.”

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Singapore follows success of SEEK Pass in Australia

SEEK Pass has already proven its value in Australia, where it was first launched by Jobstreet’s parent company, SEEK. There, 80% of employers found pre-verified candidate information useful for faster shortlisting, reducing time spent on vetting applications.

The Singapore version has been adapted to the local labour market, incorporating insights and partnerships that reflect its unique hiring dynamics.

“SEEK Pass transforms how candidates showcase their qualifications, delivering maximum value to both job seekers and employers,” said Xavier Russo, General Manager, SEEK Pass.

The government sees private-sector collaboration as a linchpin in advancing workforce resilience.

Kenny Tan, Deputy Secretary (Workforce) at the Ministry of Manpower, emphasised that while the government is strengthening the data infrastructure, partners like Jobstreet play a crucial role in building tools and services that cater to both workers and employers.

Tan Kok Yam, CEO of SkillsFuture Singapore, highlighted the importance of skills-first hiring, stating: “SkillsFuture Singapore’s partnership with Jobstreet will further enable Singaporeans to actively plan their careers based on an assessment of their own skills. We look forward to leveraging the expertise and reach of private partners like Jobstreet to expand the SkillsFuture movement.”