A higher proportion of graduates also applied for jobs, but did not get any offers

Employment rates for fresh graduates from local universities saw a decline in 2025, particularly among those securing full-time roles, a graduate employment survey said on Thursday (Mar 5).

The joint survey conducted by Singapore’s six autonomous universities found that 83.4% of recent graduates landed jobs within six months of their final exams. This was down from 87.1 % in 2024, and follows a downward trend since 2021.

Of the 83.4% of graduates who found employment in 2025, 74.4% secured full-time positions, compared to 79.4% in 2024, also continuing a downward trend since 2022.

More applied, but fewer landed offers

There was also a higher proportion of graduates who applied for jobs but did not get any offers in 2025, at 8.5%, up from 5.7% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2023.

Moreover, more graduates took on part-time or temporary employment, with 7.2% doing so in 2025, from 6% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2023.

Overall, 92.2% of graduates entered the labour force in 2025, choosing work over other paths such as further studies or taking a break, up from 90.7% in 2024.

In a joint press release, the six local universities said that the number of job vacancies has moderated from the post-pandemic peak, amid reduced job turnover and slower hiring.

“This reflects a more cautious hiring sentiment amid broader economic uncertainty and geopolitical developments,” they said.

The universities also shared that while there continue to be entry-level job opportunities, some outward-oriented sectors, such as information and communications, saw more subdued hiring compared with previous years.

It added that the survey reflects graduate employment outcomes six months after graduation, which historically tend to improve beyond the six-month mark based on trends from past cohorts.

Where the jobs are & how much they pay

According to labour market data from the Ministry of Manpower, cited by the Business Times, about 40% of entry-level vacancies for fresh graduates are in growth sectors such as financial and insurance services, and professional services, and in occupations such as financial compliance officers, risk analysts and auditors.

In 2025, graduates in information and digital technologies achieved the highest full-time permanent employment rates, alongside those in health sciences and built environment, ranging from approximately 78-89%.

The median gross monthly salary for graduates who secured jobs within six months remained steady at S$4,500.

Among them, information and digital technologies graduates earned the highest monthly salaries, averaging S$5,500—unchanged from 2024.

Support for fresh graduates seeking jobs

Some 14,400 graduates or 73.7% of the cohort from full-time programmes at the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, the Singapore University of Technology and Design, the Singapore Institute of Technology, and the Singapore University of Social Sciences took part in this survey.

The six universities surveyed them on their employment status as of Nov 1, 2025, roughly six months after they completed their final examinations.

Graduates seeking support in their job search can turn to their universities for career coaching and participate in career fairs.

They can also access resources from Workforce Singapore or NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute, or consider opportunities through the Graduate Industry Traineeships and GRIT@Gov Programmes launched in October 2025.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.

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