One in Five Fresh Graduates from Singapore’s Autonomous Universities Still Seeking Jobs
Around one in five fresh graduates from Singapore’s six autonomous universities were still seeking employment as of June 2026, according to Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau.
Of the latest cohort of 18,000 graduates, about 3,600 were seeking work, while 9,100 had secured employment. Another 5,400 were outside the labour force, mainly because they were pursuing further studies or taking a break before entering employment.
Lau said the number of entry-level professional, managerial, executive and technical (PMET) positions increased slightly from 32,500 in December 2025 to 32,800 in March 2026. She added that graduate employment remained resilient, with around nine in 10 graduates from the 2025 cohort securing employment within 12 months of graduation.
The Ministry of Manpower is working with higher education institutions and industry partners to expand work-based learning opportunities, particularly in sectors experiencing rapid artificial intelligence adoption.
Initiatives include the TechSkills Accelerator and AI Apprenticeship Programme, as well as programmes supporting careers in financial services. The Graduate Industry Traineeships Programme and GRIT@Gov have also been extended to the 2026 graduate cohort.
These initiatives aim to provide graduates with industry-relevant experience, strengthen employability and support smoother transitions from university to the workforce.
