1,500 visit career fair for jobs and skills training

SINGAPORE — More than 700 jobs in more than 10 industries, including security, food and beverage and early childhood education, were on offer at the first skills and career fair held jointly by self-help group Yayasan Mendaki, its training arm Mendaki Sense and training consultancy SSA Group.

Interviews were conducted on the spot on Sunday (April 23) for job seekers, and training providers also offered training courses, such as in tourism and retail, as well as free talks.

By 5pm, about 1,500 people had flocked to the fair held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Eunos. Of these, 400 registered for jobs, and 350 signed up for courses and skills training, said organisers.

Some 80 per cent of the jobs were for rank-and-file workers, while 20 per cent were targeted at professionals, managers, executives and technicians.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim noted that there was a lack of awareness about SkillsFuture credits available for use, in response to a question on the low take-up rate within the Malay/Muslim community.

“Secondly, (it) is the understanding that the money can be used to help them. Imagine, if you were not well-educated ... there’s 18,000 courses, (so) how do you navigate to find what’s relevant for yourself?” he said.

“You need intermediaries like Mendaki Sense and SSA to explain to the community that this is the money you can use. Perhaps you want to remain in the hospitality industry — these are the kind of courses.”

SSA Group chief executive officer Suhaimi Salleh also noted that in the current landscape, unemployment rates are at their highest in seven years, with retrenchment being a norm.

There has never been a “more critical time than now” for the community to be aware of schemes such as SkillsFuture, he said.

Job seekers told TODAY they were hoping to land jobs at the fair held at Lifelong Learning Institute, after having hunted for jobs elsewhere with no success.

Mr Elfy Sufian Suhaimi, 26, who is serving his National Service, said he has been applying for “all kinds” of jobs since the end of last year, to no avail.

“With just one more month to ORD (Operationally Ready Date), and also because I’m balloting for a flat soon, I’ve been feeling stressed,” he said.

Ms Wahidah Abdul Rahman, 38, who is from the F&B sector, was another who had been searching for a new job for some months.

She was waiting for an interview at the Carlton Hotel booth and was also interested to apply for an early childhood education job at the fair.

“I need a non-shift job — something more normal — as I need to take care of my children. I’ve kept looking and applying online, but no responses. I hope to get at least a second interview, or an offer, at the fair today,” she said.