Survey shows poly graduates in high demand despite downturn

Survey shows poly graduates in high demand despite downturn
By Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 January 2010 1136 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Despite the recession, diploma-holders appear to have no trouble finding work. A recent survey by Singapore's five polytechnics showed that nearly nine in 10 graduates last year were employed, with a growing number seeking temporary jobs.

Fresh grad employment rate stood at 88.3 per cent, while post-NS employment rate was 87.7 per cent.

Renugah Balachandran graduated from Republic Polytechnic last year. Within a month, she found a job with the Singapore Navy, under a scheme that will bond her for four years.

She said: "I wanted a stable job once I graduated so that I don't have to sit down and think that - 'why did I study?'"

Stability is certainly a big draw for the growing number of diploma holders who are looking at the public sector, which also started hiring more aggressively in 2009.

The healthcare and education sectors were among those that stepped up recruitment efforts.

The survey showed that 18.9 per cent of fresh polytechnic graduates found jobs in the civil service, up from 14.3 per cent in 2008 and 12.3 per cent in 2007.
Among post-NS graduates, the proportion went up to 27.3 per cent.

Tan Hang Cheong, principal, Singapore Polytechnic, said: "Last year, the government opened up more places because of the recession. The public sector has now offered better career development, advances, for diploma graduates.

"We hear stories of graduates who've joined the public sector and they've been offered scholarships for further studies and further development if they're doing well in their job."

Pay could be another reason.

Renugah earns about S$2,300 a month including allowance, much higher than the S$1,776 gross her peers earn on average.

Post-National Service graduates earn about S$2,130 on average.

Starting salaries for fresh diploma-holders have dipped and recruiters said anecdotally, wages at bigger firms have gone down to a bigger extent than what smaller firms are offering. Still, the draw remains.

Peter Haglund, country manager, Manpower Inc Singapore, said: "Most of what these MNCs have is a whole package of career management, career prospects and personnel development, which many of the small companies don't have.

"These benefits cost money as well. If you look at the whole employment package, they might not offer less value, but they might offer you less gross salary."

Highest earners are those in the maritime category, with starting pay of S$1,970 gross. Media and Design graduates got the least, at just S$1,642 gross.

With the economy still in recession early last year, more poly graduates chose part-time or temporary work - one in four compared to one in five in the previous survey.

The reasons are varied. Some are holding out for better job opportunities while others have opted for further studies.

Recruiters added that as companies find increasingly flexible ways to manage their manpower, the type of contract work that is being offered has also become increasingly attractive.

Graduate employment data for degree holders is expected to be out in March.
But a survey by the Singapore Human Resource Institute showed that in August 2009, while entry level pay for diploma holders rose slightly from February, that for degree holders dipped.

For instance, those with engineering degrees were offered on average S$2,451, compared to S$2,500 six months before. 

- CNA/vm

 - wong chee tat :)