NTUC’s e2i to Launch Framework to Boost Job Security for Youths
15 Aug 2025
- New youth-centric career development framework to address growing concerns on job security amongst youths
- NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) launched a new youth-centric career development framework, Prepare, Connect, Advance, today, at its inaugural University Graduate Fair graced by Mr Desmond Tan, Deputy Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, and Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment.
- This initiative reflects e2i’s expanded focus on supporting young jobseekers like fresh and undergraduates in response to growing concerns over job security, and as part of e2i’s continued commitment to help all workers access meaningful jobs and lifelong employability support. It also builds on NTUC’s ongoing efforts to support different worker segments, with young jobseekers now receiving more targeted assistance as they transition from school to work.
Prepare, Connect, Advance Framework
- The new framework aims to help young jobseekers transition confidently into their first or second jobs after graduation and is a key component of e2i’s long-term strategy to strengthen employability early, so that they can secure and sustain meaningful careers with few job security concerns in the future. It entails the following:
- Prepare: Equipping jobseekers with job search know-how through career advisory, hands-on practice and sharing from industry experts
- Connect: Fostering human connection through face-to-face interviews and networking sessions with employers
- Advance: Supporting jobseekers’ progression through engagements with industry partners, professional bodies, and social networks, while providing access to industry networks, mentors, and field experts.
- e2i is committed to bringing more career resources to students in the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) – comprising local Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), Polytechnics, and Universities. This will enhance workforce career health and equip young jobseekers with the tools to navigate a dynamic job market.
- “At NTUC’s e2i, we believe that career guidance should start well before graduation. By bringing our resources and expertise to undergraduates, we’re enabling them to explore their interests, identify skills they need, and plan their next steps with greater clarity and confidence,” said Ms Caryn Lim, Chief Executive Officer, e2i. “This initiative reflects our commitment to helping young Singaporeans secure meaningful and purpose-driven careers right from the start,” she added.
University Graduate Fair: A Career Launchpad for Fresh Graduates
- The inaugural University Graduate Fair served as a one-stop platform for young jobseekers to kick-start their career journey, offering them the opportunity to network with employers, explore available jobs, attend career talks, benefit from personalised guidance by e2i’s career coaches, attend panel discussions, and participate in on-site networking and interviews. It brought together over 20 employers from key sectors such as Business, Tech, Engineering, Humanities, and Sciences, with job opportunities also accessible via the e2i Youth & Graduates TalentLink or via e2i’s Cart-a-Job digital kiosks for those who wish to continue their search beyond the fair.
- e2i’s AI-powered career resources were also available to help young jobseekers better understand their strengths, explore suitable career pathways, and improve their resumes. For example, e2i’s Cart-a-Job – a roving, modular AI-powered career station – brings career services directly to jobseekers, offering job listings and featuring opportunities suitable for young jobseekers across various certification levels. They can also bookmark and save roles, which will be sent to their email or messaging apps – giving them quick access and the flexibility to apply later with a resume tailored to the role.
- “NTUC has been engaging youths to understand their job search challenges. We are committed to supporting their career goals and health. By leveraging technology, career guidance, and industry partnership, we will do our best to help match jobs, sharpen resumes and interview skills, and build confidence and resilience as they start their careers,” said Mr Desmond Tan, Deputy Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office.
- Fringe activities such as job search workshops, professional photoshoots, and accompanying styling advice were also featured to help jobseekers put their best foot forward. Beyond the fair, young jobseekers can also explore over 200 roles from 90 employers, offering more than 800 vacancies via the e2i Youth & Graduates TalentLink, accessible online through the e2i website or via e2i’s Cart-a-Job digital kiosks.
More Support for Youths in 2025
- To provide further support for youths, NTUC’s e2i and NTUC Youth will continue rolling out youth-focused initiatives, including:
- Career networking and job-matching events to connect students directly with employers;
- Mentorship programmes that provide youths with tailored career guidance from experienced professionals;
- Industry-led talks offering real-world insights into fast-growing and in-demand sectors;
- Learning Journeys to companies from different sectors which provides youths with experiential learning, and access to company representatives who will share on available roles and career prospects
- These efforts build on a slew of NTUC’s and NTUC’s e2i’s recent youth-focused initiatives, such as:
- IHL Mentorships and Learning Journeys: Partnering Institutes of Higher Learning to better support youths through mentorship and company visits, such as the ongoing partnership with Singapore Institute of Technology for its Industry Mentorship Programme, and a recent joint polytechnic learning journey to Shopee.
- NTUC Youth x Mentoring SG Sustainability Mentorship Programme: Launched in March 2025 as a pilot to prepare youths for the fast-growing sustainability sector through one-on-one mentorship and experiential learning via a case challenge.
- NTUC Youth EXCEL Programme: Launched in April 2025 to equip youths with job search skills while nurturing workplace leadership capabilities.
- Singapore Polytechnic–e2i MOU: Signed in March 2025 to enhance career support for students, graduates, and alumni through training, on-campus resources, and access to e2i’s digital tools.
- Furthermore, youths can gain greater access to career and learning opportunities as NTUC Starter Members, enabling them to tap on:
- 1-on-1 Mentorship: Complimentary sessions with a career mentor for tailored guidance on career choices and progression.
- UTAP-lite: Up to 50% course fee subsidy (capped at $200 a year) to help youths offset the cost of upskilling.
- NTUC Starter Awards: A bond-free scholarship programme that supports their education journey while helping them develop leadership skills.
