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Overall employment rate and monthly salaries increased, more graduates find full-time permanent employment Singapore, 21 January 2008 – Polytechnic graduates are well sought-after by employers, with more of them landing full-time permanent jobs. The latest Graduate Employment Survey by the five polytechnics reveals an increase in the overall employment rate and monthly salaries of both fresh and post-National Service (NS) graduates. For both categories of graduates, the percentage of economically active graduates in full-time permanent employment has also improved. The highly-positive survey findings could be attributed to Singapore’s strong economic climate and robust industry growth in 2007. The results are also a significant affirmation of the value that polytechnic graduates have added to the Singapore economy. Fresh GraduatesSome 7,832 fresh graduates took part in the Survey. As at 1 October 2007, 93 % of fresh graduates who are economically active 1 found jobs within six months. This is an improvement, compared to the overall employment rate of 91.3 % in 2006. About 75.3% of economically active fresh graduates are in full-time permanent employment 2, an improvement from 72.1 % in 2006. Fresh graduates in full-time permanent positions also command higher salaries. The average gross monthly salary 3 is $1,805, which represents a 5.5 % increase compared to $1,711 in 2006. Of the fresh graduates with full-time permanent jobs, 87.7 % have taken up jobs in the private sector while the remaining 12.3 % are in the public sector. 1 Economically active graduates refer to those who were working or looking for employment. 2 Full-time permanent employment refers to employment of at least 30 hours a week and where the employment is not temporary. It includes those on contracts of one year or more. 3 Gross monthly salary includes fixed allowances, overtime pay, and commissions, and is the average monthly salary of graduates who had full-time permanent jobs as at 1 October 2007. Bonuses were excluded. Post-National Service GraduatesPost-NS graduates have also done well. The overall employment rate of 3,416 respondents is 92.7 %, an increase from 91.1 % in 2006. In addition, the percentage of economically active Post-NS graduates holding full-time permanent jobs also showed an increase – from 79.9 % in 2006 to 82.3 % in 2007. Post-NS graduates in full-time permanent employment are also earning higher salaries. The average gross monthly salary is $2,171, an increase compared with $2,029 in 2006. Of the Post-NS graduates with full-time permanent jobs, 78.3 % joined the private sector while the remaining 21.7 % took up positions in the public sector. Monthly Salaries by Course CategoriesThe highest gross monthly salaries of fresh graduates are from these sectors: Maritime, Engineering, Information Technology and Accountancy, Business, Finance & Law. As for Post-NS graduates, those who command the highest gross monthly salaries are from Maritime, Accountancy, Business, Finance & Law, Built Environment and Information Technology. A comparison of the course categories is in the table below:
Course Category |
Fresh Graduates |
Post-National Service Graduates |
Basic* |
Gross+ |
Basic* |
Gross+ |
Accountancy, Business, Finance & Law |
$1,668 |
$1,780 |
$2,037 |
$2,282 |
Built Environment |
$1,645 |
$1,723 |
$1,987 |
$2,213 |
Chemical & Life Sciences & Other Sciences |
$1,638 |
$1,749 |
$1,961 |
$2,170 |
Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) |
$1,698 |
$1,895 |
$1,931 |
$2,133 |
Engineering (Mechanical & Manufacturing) |
$1,728 |
$1,923 |
$1,946 |
$2,168 |
Health Sciences |
$1,657 |
$1,744 |
$1,875 |
$2,031 |
Information Technology |
$1,701 |
$1,796 |
$2,024 |
$2,187 |
Maritime |
$1,807 |
$1,981 |
$2,064 |
$2,364 |
Media & Design |
$1,642 |
$1,710 |
$1,979 |
$2,077 |
All Courses |
$1,678 |
$1,805 |
$1,973 |
$2,171 | * Basic Salary refers to the average monthly salary of graduates who were working in full time permanent jobs as at 1 October 2007. Fixed allowances were included. + Gross Salary refers to the average basic salary plus overtime pay and commissions of graduates who were working in full-time permanent jobs as at 1 October 2007. Bonuses were excluded. Background Facts about the Survey
- The annual Graduate Employment Survey was jointly conducted by Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek polytechnics between October 2007 and December 2007.
- The Survey, conducted to ascertain the employment status of polytechnic graduates, attracted a total of about 11,000 respondents. They were asked to respond based on their employment status on 1st October 2007.
- The respondents comprised polytechnic graduates who had completed their studies in 2007 and were not liable for National Service after graduation, and Post-NS polytechnic graduates of 2004 who had completed their full-time National Service between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007.
A more detailed report of the survey findings is at Appendix I.
APPENDIX I: KEY EMPLOYMENT INDICATORS
Exhibit 1. Employment Rate
The overall employment rate of Fresh Graduates, as well as the employment rate of those in Full-Time Permanent jobs, was found to be significantly higher in 2007 as compared to 2006. The employment rate of Fresh Graduates in Part-Time or Temporary jobs had declined as compared to last year. As for Post-NS Graduates, a significant difference was found in the employment rate of those holding Full-Time Permanent jobs between 2006 and 2007.
Full-time Permanent Employment refers to employment of at least 30 hours a week and where the employment is not temporary. It includes those on contracts of one year or more.
Part-time Employment refers to employment of less than 30 hours a week.
Temporary Employment refers to casual, interim or seasonal employment, including those on contracts of less than one year.
Exhibit 2. Monthly Salary of Graduates in Full-time Permanent Employment
In 2007, both the average monthly basic and gross salary commanded by the fresh graduates with Full-Time Permanent jobs increased significantly. Similarly, the post NS graduates holding Full-Time Permanent jobs had received significantly higher average monthly basic and gross salary.
Exhibit 3. Monthly Salary of Graduates in Full-time Permanent Employment by Course Category
Course category |
Fresh Graduates |
Post-National Service Graduates |
Basic* |
Gross+ |
Basic* |
Gross+ |
Accountancy, Business, Finance & Law |
$1,668 |
$1,780 |
$2,037 |
$2,282 |
Built Environment |
$1,645 |
$1,723 |
$1,987 |
$2,213 |
Chemical & Life Sciences & Other Sciences |
$1,638 |
$1,749 |
$1,961 |
$2,170 |
Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) |
$1,698 |
$1,895 |
$1,931 |
$2,133 |
Engineering (Mechanical & Manufacturing) |
$1,728 |
$1,923 |
$1,946 |
$2,168 |
Health Sciences |
$1,657 |
$1,744 |
$1,875 |
$2,031 |
Information Technology |
$1,701 |
$1,796 |
$2,024 |
$2,187 |
Maritime |
$1,807 |
$1,981 |
$2,064 |
$2,364 |
Media & Design |
$1,642 |
$1,710 |
$1,979 |
$2,077 |
All Courses |
$1,678 |
$1,805 |
$1,973 |
$2,171 | * Basic Salary refers to the average monthly salary of graduates who were working in full time permanent jobs as at 1 October 2007. Fixed allowances were included. + Gross Salary refers to the average basic salary plus overtime pay and commission of graduates who were working full-time permanent jobs as at 1 October 2007. Bonuses were excluded. Exhibit 4. Employment Sector of Graduates in Full-time Permanent Employment The private sector continued to be the main employer of Polytechnic graduates, with 87.7% and 78.3% of Fresh and Post NS graduates respectively joined the sector in 2007. The shift towards more hiring in the private sector seen in 2007 as compared to the previous year is significant. LIST OF DIPLOMA COURSES INVOLVED IN THE SURVEY
ACCOUNTANCY, BUSINESS, FINANCE & LAW
Accountancy; Accountancy & Finance; Accounting & Finance (NYP, NP, SP, TP)
Financial Services; Banking & Financial Services (NYP, NP, SP)
Business; Business Administration; Business Management; Business Studies (NYP, NP, SP, TP)
Hospitality Management; Tourism Management; Hospitality & Tourism Management (TP)
Law & Management (TP)
Logistics & Operations Management (TP)
Marketing (NYP, SP, TP)
Media Studies & Management (NYP)
Pre-School Education (NP)
Sports & Wellness Management (NYP)
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Architecture; Architectural Technology (SP)
Building & Property Management; Building & Real Estate Management (NP, SP)
Building Services Engineering (NP)
Civil & Environmental Engineering (NP)
Civil & Structural Engineering (SP)
Facilities Management for Business; Property Development & Facilities Management (NP, SP)
Landscape Architecture (SP)
CHEMICAL & LIFE SCIENCE & OTHER SCIENCES
Applied Food Science & Nutrition (TP)
Biomedical Informatics & Engineering (TP)
Biomedical Lab Technology; Biomedical Science (NP, RP, TP, SP)
Biotechnology; Molecular Biotechnology (NYP, NP, SP, TP)
Chemical Engineering (NP, SP, TP)
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology (NYP)
Chemical Process Technology (SP)
Consumer Science & Technology (TP)
Horticultural & Landscape Management (NP)
Medical Technology (SP)
Optometry (SP)
ENGINEERING (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC)
Aerospace Electronics (SP)
Biomedical Electronics Engineering; Biomedical Engineering (RP, NP)
Business Process & Systems Engineering; Industrial & Systems Engineering (RP, TP)
Computer & Network Technology (SP)
Computer Engineering; Electrical & Computer Control Engineering; Electronics Engineering; Electronics, Computer & Communications Engineering; Microelectronics; Telecommunications, Electrical & Telecommunication Engineering (NYP, NP, RP, SP, TP)
Electrical Engineering (NP, SP)
Info-Communications, Information Communication Technology (SP, TP)
Intelligent Building Technology (TP)
Multimedia & InfoComm Technology (NYP)
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ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING)
Aeronautical Engineering; Aerospace Technology (NP, SP)
Logistics Engineering & Management (NP)
Manufacturing Engineering (NYP, SP)
Mechanical Engineering (NP, SP)
Mechatronics; Mechatronics Engineering (NYP, NP, SP, TP)
Product Engineering (TP)
Quality Management & Engineering (NP, TP)
HEALTH SCIENCES
Dental Hygiene & Therapy (NYP)
Diagnostic Radiography; Radiation Therapy (NYP)
Nursing (NYP)
Occupational Therapy (NYP)
Physiotherapy (NYP)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Business Computing; Business Informatics; Business Information Technology (NYP, NP, RP, SP, TP)
Engineering Informatics (NYP, NP)
Information Management; Information Studies; Information Technology; Information Technology (Computer Studies) (NYP, NP, RP, SP, TP)
Information Technology (Mobile Computing); Mobile & Wireless Computing (NP, TP)
Internet Computing (TP)
Internetworking & Communications (NP)
Multimedia Computing; Multimedia Software Engineering; Multimedia Technology (NP, SP)
Digital Entertainment Technology (NYP)
MARITIME
Marine Engineering (SP)
Marine & Offshore Technology (NP)
Maritime Transportation Management, Maritime Transportation (SP)
Nautical Studies (SP)
MEDIA & DESIGN
Apparel Design & Merchandising (TP)
Communications & Media Management; Mass Communication; Media & Communication (NP, SP, TP)
Creative Media Design (SP)
Digital Media Design (NYP)
Film, Sound & Video (NP)
Industrial Design; Product & Industrial Design (NYP, TP)
Interactive Media Design (TP)
Interior Architecture & Design (TP)
Interior Design (SP)
Visual Communication (TP) |
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