Record 80% Singapore employers provided structured training in 2014: MOM

A RECORD eight in 10 private establishments in Singapore provided structured training to at least one employee in 2014, up from seven in 10 in 2012, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Monday in its biennial survey on employer-supported training.

This is the highest since the comparable series started in 2002 and may reflect greater government support and emphasis in upgrading the skills of the workforce, the ministry said.

According to its research and statistics department, training expenditure by employers was similar to 2012, averaging S$726 per trainee last year, compared to S$717 in 2012. After accounting for training grants and subsidies, the training expenditure was S$636 per trainee and S$360 per employee, compared to S$641 per trainee and S$362 per employee in 2012.

"Similar to 2012, increased training subsidies and better workload management were the top motivations for employers to send their staff for training," the ministry said.

Employers in construction (96 per cent), financial & insurance services (90 per cent) and manufacturing (84 per cent) remained more likely to send their staff for training, given industry-specific requirements on mandatory courses or certification. At the other end, firms in wholesale and retail trade were less likely to send their employees for training, although those which did so still formed the majority (70 per cent).

Clerical, sales and service workers were the least likely to be sent for training in 2014, compared to other occupational groups; as the proportion sent for training declined.

Employers generally reported positive impact of training on their organisational and staff performance, especially on work efficiency (83 per cent), quality of services (78 per cent), ability to meet changing/future needs (65 per cent), employees' skills level (92 per cent) and job responsibilities (70 per cent).