How can young people in S'pore overcome career anxiety?

It has been said that young people today don’t care about society and changing it.

But this is far from the truth in Singapore.

Through a series of engagements, surveys and polls in 2025 and 2026 with the National Youth Council (NYC), Singapore youths have spoken up about some of their biggest concerns — their careers, work-life balance, and mental well-being.

Those between the ages of 15 and 35 are very interested in building a more fair, inclusive, and compassionate society.

About 63 per cent were concerned about equal and fair opportunities, and 58 per cent wished for Singapore to cultivate a culture of compassion and empathy.

Some face challenges in career exploration and hope for more career guidance and exposure.

Not many youths are familiar with the support available to them

Only one in three said they are familiar with support available to help them with stress in their studies or work. Fewer than one in five felt they have enough support in their school or workplace.

Sports and exercise is one way they take care of their well-being, with four in five youths taking part in some physical activity once a week.

Still, some have pointed to a lack of time and motivation as a barrier that has prevented them from exercising more.

Anxious about their careers

In terms of jobs, the youths generally have a strong sense of purpose and desire to build meaningful careers, but are facing challenges in figuring out their path.

Three in five schooling youths said they are unsure how to get started in exploring different career paths.

As for working youths, half feel unable to keep up with skills required to stay relevant.

More than half also want work exposure and mentorship to help them in their career exploration, and believe regional experience can aid in their career advancement.

Optimistic about Singapore’s future

At the same time, the majority of them have expressed optimism about Singapore’s future.

About 76 per cent said they are confident about the country’s future, while 66 per cent feel confident about their own future in the country.

As for improvements, 64 per cent of youths believe they have the ability to make the country a better place.

However, only half said they have adequate support to contribute to Singapore’s future, with 43 per cent saying they feel supported in pursuing their personal aspirations.

Empowering the youths

To better support youths in these areas of concern, NYC and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) have worked with partners from the whole of society to put together a five-year action plan.

Known as the SG Youth Plan, it offers programmes, platforms, and resources to help youths feel confident in charting their own paths, connecting to their communities, and developing a sense of purpose to contribute meaningfully to the society.

To find out more about these initiatives, head over to the SG Youth Forum on Jul. 25, where the SG Youth Plan will be launched.

Get career guidance

At the SG Youth Forum, organisations from various sectors will be setting up booths highlighting opportunities for youths.

If you are embarking on your career or figuring out your next step, check out the booth by NYC’s digital portal Discover.

Take the Discover quiz to find out your personalised archetype, which will match you to possible career pathways, job tasters, and mentors that suit you.

There are also job tasters who offer a taste of what work looks like in different careers, so you can find out if they are the path for you. Through hands-on activities and insights from those in the industry, you can learn about the day-to-day work of professions such as clinical research and community building.

If you would like personal guidance from industry professionals, explore the mentorship opportunities from Mentoring SG at the same booth.

Through the platform, you can connect with a network of mentors, organisations, and resources to grow and navigate challenges in your journey.

Also, don’t miss a flash mentoring session featuring He Rui Ming from The Woke Salaryman, and Koh Man Jing from Just Keep Thinking.

Find out how to make an impact

For those passionate about change, head over to the Young ChangeMakers’ space.

Keep an eye out for the Ideas Gachapon, which has prompts to get you thinking of solutions to real-world challenges. If you have an idea, write it down and stick it on the wall.

At the Participatory Budgeting Zone, you get chips to vote on which youth projects deserve funding, offering a hands-on taste of how communities can shape resource allocation.

Find inspiration as you flip through the Project Storybooks, watch videos from youth changemakers, and get your questions about youth action answered at the Ask Me Anything! booth.

Youth Corps Singapore will also have a booth to share about their causes and how young people can get involved, including volunteering abroad through a Youth Corps Expedition Project.

Got a lot of ideas about tackling social issues in Singapore? Join the tabletop experiential activity at the booth’s workshop space, where you will work together with other youths to discuss issues such as poverty, senior loneliness, and the waste crisis, and explore how you can play your part.

Besides the booths, the SG Youth Forum has a range of fringe activities including live podcasts, interactive workshops, and a flea market to connect with peers and organisations who share your interests.

You can register for the forum here.

2026 SG Youth Forum

Location: Suntec Convention Centre, Engage Theatre 2 (Halls 401 — 402)

Date: Jul. 25, 2026

Time: 10:30am to 5pm

This branded article by the National Youth Council made this writer feel hopeful about the young generation in Singapore.