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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?

 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.

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