Friday, June 02, 2017

Is Singapore not competitive for aircraft maintenance jobs

I met a young man in his mid 20s. He graduated from a polytechnic with a diploma in aeronautical engineering and went to serve his National Service. On completing his full time NS, he could not get a job. He had to work as a part time cashier to earn $6 an hour.

I find this strange. There should be business for the aircraft maintenance industry, due to the explosion in air travel, particularly for the low cost airlines.

This is an industry where Singapore should be competitive. The planes are costly, so the airlines should be able to pay a high fee for aircraft maintenance of a high standard.

He told me that the aircraft maintenance requires a lot of space and Singapore is short of space. That is why not many jobs are available in Singapore.

I do not accept this reasoning. Perhaps the cost of rental of space is a major factor. I do not think the aircraft maintenance companies are using foreigners, as the expected salary of this young man is quite modest.
There is a problem here. I do not know what is the real problem.

1 comment:

Yujuan said...

My nephew graduated with an UK Masters Degree in aeronautical engineering last July, returned to Singapore and has yet to find a job.
We are perplexed also, until we met an ST Engineering engineer preparing for his retirement.
He advised that getting a professional Licence to repair planes more important than getting the Degree, as passengers' lives are at stake up in the air, and the best place to get it is the US.
So dun waste time and money to get higher paper degrees, the Licence and practical experience are what employers want.
Also, better for new graduates to try for a job in the procurement of aeronautical spare parts, anything connected with this industry to prepare for future openings in this field, ultimately aiming to get this Licence.
Guess the polytechnic way is better in this sphere, easier to get apprenticeship in this industry locally as an intern, and to permanent employment on graduation.

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