S'pore govt to fund traineeships for ITE, polytechnic & university graduates

In his English speech during the National Day Rally 2025 on Aug. 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed concerns about economic uncertainties facing young Singaporeans.

PM Wong noted that while young Singaporeans today have far more diverse pathways than before, many fresh graduates remain anxious about their job prospects in an uncertain economy.

Drawing parallels with the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Wong highlighted how traineeships had then provided young Singaporeans with real-world experience and kept their "skills sharp" until the job market recovered.

He cited the example of Syainda Abdul Halil, a Nanyang Polytechnic graduate who joined a JP Morgan traineeship in 2021.

She later secured a full-time position, was recently promoted to Associate Technology Project Manager, and even met her now-husband during the programme.

Building on such successes, PM Wong announced a new government-funded traineeship programme for graduates from ITE, polytechnics, and universities.

"Today, companies continue to offer traineeships. But with government support, they can offer more training opportunities," he said.

The initiative will start with a focused rollout, with room to expand if economic conditions worsen.

More details about the programme will be announced soon.

Top image via NTU