NTUC's job security chief, Caryn Lim, is grappling with two pressing concerns: fresh graduates and older professionals, managers, and executives (PMEs). Lim's worries stem from the potential for these groups to become discouraged and lose hope in the job market. For graduates, the fear is that they will become disheartened and lose faith in their career prospects. Meanwhile, older PMEs face challenges in bouncing back from retrenchment and finding jobs that match their previous salaries. To address these issues, Lim emphasizes the need for NTUC to enhance its support at the individual level, particularly through its industry training officers. These officers work with companies to develop and implement job, skills, and capability upgrades in line with business and industry transformations. Additionally, Lim advocates for the labor movement to leverage technology, such as artificial intelligence, to reach more workers. As part of this effort, NTUC is revamping its AI career coach. On a company level, unions are scaling up company training committees (CTCs) to bring together management, workers, and union representatives. These committees identify the skills employees need as businesses evolve and can apply for NTUC grants to fund such projects. The labor movement aims to broaden CTCs from individual company projects to cross-sector initiatives, working with leading companies to implement industry-wide solutions. CTCs, which exist in around 3,800 companies, are seen as a crucial tool in Singapore's strategy to combat AI-related job disruption. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at May Day that the government will collaborate with the labor movement to scale up CTCs as part of its commitment to protect every worker in the face of AI-driven economic changes. Lim's role as NTUC's first Chief Job Security involves overseeing institutions like the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and its job security directorate, coordinating job prospects and engagement with employers on transformation, wages, employment conditions, and workforce upgrading. The focus is on groups facing increased job insecurity due to economic shifts and rising retrenchments. Preliminary data indicates a 15% increase in retrenchments in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter. Lim highlights the changing profile of Singapore's workforce, with a higher proportion of PMEs and technicians. She notes that PMEs find it more challenging to secure new jobs post-retrenchment due to the rapid evolution of job requirements. The information and communication technology sector serves as an example, where retrenched workers may possess skill sets that are no longer in demand. Lim also expresses concern about young workers seeking their first jobs, with youth unemployment on the rise. Statistics reveal a 10% increase in unemployment among workers below 30 from December 2025 to March 2026. Lim underscores the importance of optimism among young people, encouraging them to see Singapore as a place where they can build a future, afford homes, and raise families, rather than fearing job loss. Looking ahead, Lim suggests that the concept of job security may need to evolve, moving away from the idea of staying in one job forever towards finding the right job at the right time.
