The Business Times
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BRUNCH

Why Singapore’s fresh grads are struggling to get hired

As job offers disappear and rejection e-mails pile up, Gen Zs are stepping into a gloomy job market. Will this be a passing shower or a prolonged downpour?

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Sharon See

Sharon See

Published Fri, Jun 27, 2025 · 02:30 PM
    • From shifting employer preferences and AI disruption to a possible mismatch between university training and industry needs, the ground beneath graduate employment is shifting.
    • From shifting employer preferences and AI disruption to a possible mismatch between university training and industry needs, the ground beneath graduate employment is shifting. IMAGE: MARIO MONREAL, BT

    [SINGAPORE] It is the year 2017, and the tech sector is booming. With Industry 4.0 in full swing and FAANG stocks on the rise, pursuing data science and analytics seemed a safe bet for career security.

    That was the logic for Koh Long Yang, a self-described math lover who was deciding what to study before entering national service. His reasoning was simple: every company needs data, and someone to make sense of it.

    Fast forward to 2024 with graduation in sight, and the reality of his job prospects began to sink in.

    BrunchSingapore manpowerEmploymentUnemploymentLabour Market

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