Some employers said that they are willing to employ Singaporeans, but they cannot find them, even at higher salaries. There seems to be a shortage of Singaporeans for the economy.
I want to share the key factors for the missing Singaporeans.
The shortage of Singaporeans is a fact. Look at our declining birth rates for the last 25 years and you will agree that numerically, the supply of Singaporeans for the economy has diminished. The Government's attempts to reverse the birth rate through its "three or more, if you can afford it" has failed miserably, and the birthrate had continued to decline relentlessly.
The other factors are that many Singaporeans are spending too much time in National Service (here, I refer to the males) and going to universities.
Recently, I asked a Poly student what he thought about "National Service". He said, "wasting time". He explained that he is already 19 years and will complete National Service by 22 and will only start work at 26, after completing university. His classmate said that she will go to an university outside of Singapore, as she would not be able to qualify for a local university. She would only start work at 23.
Forty five years ago, I started work at 18 after completing Secondary Four. More than 80% of my cohort started work around that time - as only 20% went to college and university. We were trained in our jobs at the workplace and fitted well. We did not need to have any degree in "business management" or "marketing" to do the clerical, executive, sales or service work that were needed by business. We learned on the job, and the learning was more relevant!
Today, far too many people are spending their time in universities, either in Singapore or overseas, learning knowledge that they will not apply in their future work. For example, we have many qualified engineers making more money as insurance and property agents or financial traders. If we want them to do these vocational jobs, why do they have to spend four years in university?
Our local people have to compete with foreigners who hold university degrees. Many of these foreign degrees are given out quite liberally, with the result that the holders do not match the degrees. Many Singaporeans pursuing overseas degrees in low grade universities be in a similar situation. Why spend so much time and money on these useless qualifications? At least, the foreigners spend a fraction of the cost spend by Singaporeans on getting these papers.
One key factor for this "paper chase" is the refusal by the Government to implement a minimum wage in Singapore. There is also a culture of blind adherence to salary grades based on paper qualifications. Many people pursue a degree, even a useless one, in the hope that they can qualify for the higher salary band. It is sad to see human resource managers over-rely on paper qualifications, rather than judgment on work performance, in fixing salaries.
We have to re-think our approach towards paper qualifications and spend our time and money more wisely to produce people that can fit the real needs of business and industry.
Tan Kin Lian
I want to share the key factors for the missing Singaporeans.
The shortage of Singaporeans is a fact. Look at our declining birth rates for the last 25 years and you will agree that numerically, the supply of Singaporeans for the economy has diminished. The Government's attempts to reverse the birth rate through its "three or more, if you can afford it" has failed miserably, and the birthrate had continued to decline relentlessly.
The other factors are that many Singaporeans are spending too much time in National Service (here, I refer to the males) and going to universities.
Recently, I asked a Poly student what he thought about "National Service". He said, "wasting time". He explained that he is already 19 years and will complete National Service by 22 and will only start work at 26, after completing university. His classmate said that she will go to an university outside of Singapore, as she would not be able to qualify for a local university. She would only start work at 23.
Forty five years ago, I started work at 18 after completing Secondary Four. More than 80% of my cohort started work around that time - as only 20% went to college and university. We were trained in our jobs at the workplace and fitted well. We did not need to have any degree in "business management" or "marketing" to do the clerical, executive, sales or service work that were needed by business. We learned on the job, and the learning was more relevant!
Today, far too many people are spending their time in universities, either in Singapore or overseas, learning knowledge that they will not apply in their future work. For example, we have many qualified engineers making more money as insurance and property agents or financial traders. If we want them to do these vocational jobs, why do they have to spend four years in university?
Our local people have to compete with foreigners who hold university degrees. Many of these foreign degrees are given out quite liberally, with the result that the holders do not match the degrees. Many Singaporeans pursuing overseas degrees in low grade universities be in a similar situation. Why spend so much time and money on these useless qualifications? At least, the foreigners spend a fraction of the cost spend by Singaporeans on getting these papers.
One key factor for this "paper chase" is the refusal by the Government to implement a minimum wage in Singapore. There is also a culture of blind adherence to salary grades based on paper qualifications. Many people pursue a degree, even a useless one, in the hope that they can qualify for the higher salary band. It is sad to see human resource managers over-rely on paper qualifications, rather than judgment on work performance, in fixing salaries.
We have to re-think our approach towards paper qualifications and spend our time and money more wisely to produce people that can fit the real needs of business and industry.
Tan Kin Lian
5 comments:
It is very, very necessary to have a university degree in Singapore.
You will be filtered out very early if you do not.
The reasons why people with degrees in engineering etc are doing sales jobs such as insurance is because the engineering jobs do not pay enough, and there are many cheaper alternatives from India, Phillipines and China.. they also do not have reservists duties.
Here in Singapore, its all about money. Symbols are everywhere to remind you about money.
If we face this reality and admit that we are a nation, a people driven by money, we can move forward without this sense of identity crisis.
What are we ashamed of?
Living in denial will only cause more angst.
'Many of these foreign degrees are given out quite liberally, with the result that the holders do not match the degrees.'
In 2003, NUS/NTU wanted additional entrance qualification for Poly graduate. ie. SAT. My daughter and her classmate were not happy with new entrance rule.
My daughter and her classmate left for Australia. She is an Engineer by training. Now, she take care two production plants on Jurong Island for a Japan MNC.
Her classmate having finished first degree in Chemical Engineering, she received PhD scholarship from U of Queensland WITHOUT condition attached. She return back Singapore as a Poly lecturer.
Told you already, NS obligations is the albatross round our male citizens' necks. Tenure should not be more than 12 months, 6 months would be ideal.
The SAF has not been put to the test in a real war, so it's secret role is only a temporary deterence to enemies, real or imagery, before SOS help from abroad arrive.
So many of our PAP MPs have roots in the SAF, only they are passionate about maintaining NS, purely out of Elitist face.
Singapore went to ask the Israelis for advice on how to start an army and how to manage the NS system. So the PAP followed the israeli model. We are paying for it now. 13 years of reservist liability afetr 2/5 years of active duty. I heard that Goh Keng Swee's son did not have to serve NS because he was above the cut off age of 25. How lucky
Dear Mr Tan,
What jobs can I work as now so that I can be an Actuary like you some day?
I am 20 years old, Singaporean and have an O Level Cert.
Regards,
Sarah
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