Polytechnic Graduates Command Higher Salary Amidst Evolving Job Landscape
Close to 9 In 10 Employed Within 6 Months Post-Graduation
The 2024 Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey (GES)1 found that the median gross monthly salary among graduates in full-time permanent employment increased from $2,800 in 2023 to $2,900 in 2024. It also found that 87.5% of polytechnic graduates in the labour force were employed within six months of graduation or after completing full-time National Service, against the backdrop of slower employment growth in 2024 as compared to 2023.
Among the 5,769 polytechnic graduate survey respondents in the labour force, 54.6% were in full-time permanent employment, 27.0% were in part‐time/temporary employment, and 2.9% had either accepted a job offer or were actively starting a business venture. Consistent with previous years, a significant majority of the polytechnic graduates in part-time/temporary employment did so voluntarily, with about half of them concurrently pursuing or preparing to begin further studies.
Table 1: Employment Indicators from 2022 to 2024
| Proportion of Respondents in the Labour Force who were: | Fresh Graduates | Post-NS (PNS) Graduates | Combined (Fresh and PNS Graduates) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Employed | 91.4% | 91.7% | 85.6% | 92.7% | 95.1% | 91.4% | 91.8% | 92.7% | 87.5% |
| In Full-Time Permanent Employment | 56.1% | 55.5% | 49.2% | 65.4% | 69.2% | 65.2% | 59.0% | 59.8% | 54.6% |
| Freelancing | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 10.1% | 7.3% | 8.3% | 5.9% | 5.0% | 5.9% |
| In Part-Time/ Temporary Employment | 31.3% | 32.3% | 31.6% | 17.2% | 18.5% | 17.8% | 26.9% | 28.0% | 27.0% |
| Voluntary | 30.2% | 30.8% | 29.6% | 16.2% | 17.7% | 16.8% | 25.8% | 26.7% | 25.3% |
| Involuntary | 1.1% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Unemployed | 8.6% | 8.3% | 14.4% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 8.6% | 8.2% | 7.3% | 12.5% |
| Unemployed but starting work soon or actively starting a business venture | 2.3% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| Unemployed and still looking for a job | 6.3% | 4.7% | 11.3% | 5.1% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 5.9% | 4.2% | 9.6% |
Note: The percentages may not add up due to rounding off. The list of definitions for the employment indicators is in Annex A.
Across course clusters, graduates' median gross monthly salaries continue to increase compared to the previous year’s graduating class. The median gross monthly salary of graduates from Health Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Information & Digital Technologies were higher than the overall median for all graduates.
Table 2: Median Gross Monthly Salary by Course Clusters (Full-Time Permanent Employed Graduates only) from 2022 to 2024
| Course Cluster | Fresh Graduates | Post-NS (PNS)Graduates | Combined (Fresh and PNS Graduates) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Overall | $2,550 | $2,700 | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,963 | $3,000 | $2,600 | $2,800 | $2,900 |
| Arts, Design & Media | $2,300 |
$2,500 | $2,500 | $2,625 | $2,800 | $2,900 | $2,500 | $2,600 | $2,625 |
| Built Environment | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,675 | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,900 | $2,535 | $2,640 |
$2,800 |
| Business | $2,500 | $2,600 | $2,700 | $2,890 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,500 | $2,700 | $2,800 |
| Engineering | $2,550 | $2,629 | $2,775 | $2,850 | $2,900 | $3,000 | $2,700 | $2,800 | $2,900 |
| Health Sciences | $2,852 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,860 | $3,069 | $3,273 | $2,854 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | $2,600 | $2,900 | $3,100 | $2,800 | $2,970 | $3,000 | $2,600 | $2,913 | $3,038 |
| Information & Digital Technologies | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,900 | $2,880 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,747 | $2,900 | $3,000 |
| Sciences | $2,250 | $2,340 | $2,500 | $2,570 | $2,980 | $2,940 | $2,300 | $2,500 | $2,600 |
Note: The list of diploma courses under each course cluster is available in Annex B.
Fresh Graduates
7,614 out of 10,045 fresh graduates in 2024 responded to the survey. As of 1 October 2024, around six months after graduation, 50.4% of the respondents were in the labour force. 48.9% were pursuing or preparing to begin further studies and were not actively looking for jobs. A majority of the remaining 0.8% said they were taking a break and were not seeking employment.
Post-National Service Graduates
5,290 out of 8,939 graduates from 2021 who completed their full-time National Service (NS) between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 responded to the survey. 36.5% of respondents were in the labour force. 63.1% were pursuing or preparing to begin further studies and were not actively looking for jobs. Similar to the fresh graduates, most of the remaining 0.4% of the respondents said they were taking a break and were not seeking employment.
Nurturing Future Talent for the Industry
The five polytechnics are committed to preparing their graduates for the workforce, as well as providing timely career guidance and support, including job matching and personalised career coaching and planning. Tapping on their strong industry networks, the polytechnics also organise regular career fairs to curate suitable job placement and apprenticeship opportunities, including the SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme.
Speaking on behalf of the Polytechnic GES Committee on the outcome of the survey findings, Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal & CEO, Singapore Polytechnic said, “Given the evolving job landscape, we are actively working to equip our students with the necessary skills and adaptability to navigate this well. This includes strengthening industry partnerships to provide real-world experience, integrating AI literacy into our curriculum, and enhancing career guidance and support services. Our commitment is to ensure that our graduates are well-prepared for the future of work and can successfully launch fulfilling careers.”
Annex A: Definition of Employment Indicators
Employment refers to graduates working in full-time permanent, part-time, temporary employment and freelancing. The employment rate is the number of employed graduates, as a proportion of graduates in the labour force (i.e. those who were working or not working but actively looking and available for work).
Full-time Permanent Employment refers to employment of at least 35 hours a week and where the employment is not temporary. It includes those on contracts of one year or more.
Freelancing refers to those who operate their own business without employing any paid worker in the conduct of their business or trade.
Part-time Employment refers to employment of less than 35 hours a week.
Temporary Employment refers to casual, interim or seasonal employment, including those on contracts of less than one year.
Involuntary part-time/temporary employment refers to those who indicated that they were in part-time/temporary employment after they were unable to obtain a full-time permanent job offer.
Voluntary part-time/temporary employment refers to those who indicated that they were in part-time/temporary employment as they were pursuing/ preparing to commence further studies or taking active steps to start a business venture, due to personal choice and other reasons.
Gross Monthly Salary comprises basic salary, fixed allowances, overtime pay, commissions and other regular cash payments, before deduction of the employee’s CPF contributions and personal income tax. Employer’s CPF contributions, bonuses, stock options, other lump sum payments, and payments-in-kind are excluded.
Annex B: List of Diploma Courses under Each Course Cluster
|
ARTS, DESIGN & MEDIA
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
ENGINEERING
|
ENGINEERING (CON'T)
HEALTH SCIENCES
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
SCIENCES
|