Remarks by Jean Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Employment & Employability Institute at e2i Annual Partner Appreciation Event on 10 July 2026
Distinguished Partners, Board Members, NTUC Central Committee Members
Colleagues & Friends,
Good afternoon. It is wonderful to welcome all of you to this year’s e2i Partner Appreciation event.
This is my first appreciation party as Chief Executive Officer, and I am delighted to spend it with the partners and colleagues who have walked alongside e2i over the years. Thank you for being here.
At e2i, our mission is simple but deeply meaningful: Better Jobs for Better Lives. We believe that every meaningful workforce journey can ‘Start with e2i’ – whether someone is seeking a better job, exploring a new career, upgrading their skills, or whether an employer is building a future-ready workforce.
But none of that happens because of e2i alone. It happens because of all of you.
Today’s theme, “Ripe for Impact. Delivering Outcomes Together,” captures perfectly what our partnerships have sown. Together, we have built a strong ecosystem of employers, government agencies, unions, industry partners, training providers and community organisations. Each of you brings different strengths and expertise, but we are united by one shared purpose – to help workers and businesses move forward with confidence.
Delivering Impact Together
That shared purpose has translated into real outcomes.
Together, we are supporting NTUC AI-Ready SG by helping workers and businesses prepare for an AI-enabled economy through skills development, career guidance and workforce transformation. Through the Company Training Committee initiative, more than 3,800 CTCs have been established, benefiting over 300,000 workers.
Last August, we also launched the NTUC AI Career Coach to make career guidance and job opportunities more accessible. More than 12,000 users have already signed up, reflecting the growing need for accessible digital career support.
One such individual is Xu Ying, whose story you may have seen at the Level 2 lift lobby. Like many jobseekers, Xu Ying experienced repeated setbacks and gradually lost confidence. Through e2i’s personalised coaching and its AI-enabled tool, she strengthened her resume, sharpened her interview skills and rebuilt her confidence. She subsequently secured a role as a Process Engineer in the semiconductor industry.
Her story reminds us that behind every placement is a person. Behind every statistic is someone who has regained confidence, found purpose and taken a crucial step forward in life. And that is what Better Jobs for Better Lives truly means.
This past year, we also expanded our reach by opening our 28th e2i Career Centre at Ang Mo Kio Hub, bringing our services closer to workers and employers in the northern region. And just last week, we launched Jobs Nearby, in partnership with Central CDC, bringing employment and employability support closer to residents, right in the heart of community.
Together, in 2025, we supported close to 60,000 jobseekers on their career journeys and placed some 40,000 people in jobs. At this year’s NTUC Career Festival alone, more than 2,800 candidates were shortlisted for jobs.
These achievements belong to all of us. They were only possible because you opened doors, created opportunities, shared your expertise, invested in workers, and believed in what we could accomplish together. For that, we are deeply grateful.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead, the world of work will continue to evolve. Technology will reshape industries. Jobs will change. Skills will continue to evolve. The challenges will become more complex – but so too will opportunities grow.
That is why partnerships like ours matter more than ever. No single organisation can do this alone. But together, we can continue building a workforce that is resilient, adaptable, and ready for the future.
We look forward to partnering all of you in the year ahead. Join us at the NTUC Career Festival 2027 and our many other initiatives as we create more opportunities, strengthen workforce development, and help even more workers and employers succeed.
In closing, on behalf of everyone at e2i, thank you partners for your trust, collaboration and commitment to our shared mission. To my board and colleagues, thank you for your passion, professionalism and dedication. I would also like to recognise my predecessor, Caryn Lim, whose leadership helped lay the foundations for many of the achievements we celebrate today.
Finally, let us continue ensuring that whenever a worker or employer is ready for their next step, they know they can Start with e2i. Thank you once again. Have a wonderful afternoon, and most importantly, enjoy the durians!
