Why underemployment deserves attention, even if it is voluntary
Being underemployed by choice still carries consequences, including skills atrophy
Add BT as a preferred source
A DEGREE in Singapore was considered a passport to the middle class. That is a hard truth for a small country that has staked so much on human capital.
Through decades of investment in education and skills, such as SkillsFuture and career conversion programmes, the message to workers has always been to keep learning and upskilling, stay relevant, and invest in themselves.
Many did exactly that. In fact, more than 64 per cent of the resident workforce in 2025 hold tertiary qualifications, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). They earned degrees, accumulated credentials and built skills over years of hard work.
TRENDING NOW
Malaysian tycoon Vincent Tan’s sell-downs point to pruning rather than an exit plan
Simba ordered to pay S$700,000 in damages to indoor skydiving operator Altitude Xperience for trespass
What’s wrong with Orchard Road? Experts weigh in on the street’s cachet and its future
As luxury retail goes big, can Singapore’s Orchard Road keep up?
