10 Facts About the Career Centres That Will Be in All HDB Towns

Recession. Retrenchment. A lack of job opportunities.

In these trying times, those three terms/phrases prove horrifyingly relatable.

Image: Giphy

Thankfully, the government is doing all it can to shield citizens against the onslaught of the Covid-19, both physically and financially. The job support schemes and payouts were one…

And the new career centres are another.

But what are career centres all about, and are they plausible in the current climate?

Without further ado, let’s find out.

10 Facts About the Career Centres That Will Be in All HDB Towns

1. Satellite Career Centers

Called SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres, these satellite career centres will be set up in all 24 HDB towns and will be run by around 100 “career ambassadors” from government agency Workforce Singapore (WSG).

The career centres aim to aid the efforts of job seekers by supplying relevant information and assisting wherever necessary.

“As the Government creates a wider range of opportunities for job seekers through the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package, these satellite career centres will bring those opportunities closer to job seekers by providing information on jobs and training, and helping them find the most suitable pathway based on their needs,” said WSG.

2. SG United Jobs And Skills Package

According to TODAYOnlinethe SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will increase job, trainee-ship and skills training opportunities, and is meant to benefit around 100,000 Singaporeans affected by the current recession period.

Of the 100,000 opportunities, 40,000 are expected to be jobs, 25,000 trainee-ships and the rest skills training courses.

It was first announced last month, in the Fortitude Budget by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

3. Opening In Phases

Similar to Singapore’s withdrawal from the Circuit Breaker measure, the implementation of these career centres will be in phases.

In Phase 1, the designated community centres, which will harbour the new facilities, comprise of:

  • Ang Mo Kio
  • Bedok
  • Bukit Batok
  • Choa Chu Kang
  • Jurong West
  • Sengkang
  • Woodlands
  • Yishun

The career centres in these areas will open from 1 July.

4. Phase 2

Subsequently, Phase 2 would involve the following HDB towns:

  • Bukit Merah
  • Geylang
  • Hougang
  • Pasir Ris
  • Punggol
  • Tampines
  • Toa Payoh

The career centres in these areas are slated to commence operations from 1 August.

5. Endgame

Last but not least, Phase 3 would entail the following HDB towns:

  • Bishan
  • Bukit Panjang
  • Clementi
  • Jurong East
  • Kallang/Whampoa
  • Queenstown
  • Sembawang
  • Serangoon

The centres in these areas will be set up on 15 August.

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6. Career Ambassadors

Worried about being attended to by a greenhorn in such tumultuous times? Don’t be.

Newly hired ambassadors will be trained to have the skills and competencies necessary to supplement job seekers with relevant career advice.

So you’ll only walk out of the career centre with more knowledge, not less.

7. Creation Of Jobs

To meet urgent needs related to Covid-19 operations, such as swabbers and healthcare declaration assistants, the public sector will create 15,000 jobs.

Agencies will also collaborate with businesses to generate another 25,000 jobs. This brings the total tally to 40,000 new jobs.

8. Traineeship

25,000 new traineeships will be created, with 21,000 stemming from the current SGUnited Traineeship programme and 4,000 from the new SGUnited Mid-Career Traineeships scheme (for unemployed mid-career job seekers).

For the scheme, agencies will work with interested companies to provide traineeship opportunities for relevant applicants.

From June onwards, trainees will be able to secure industry-relevant experience with the traineeships, after which they may receive full-time positions with their internship companies.

Meanwhile, the SGUnited Skills Programme will be increasing training capacity for around 30,000 job seekers this year.

9. Reassurance

Mr Tan Choon Shian, WSG’s chief executive officer, has noted the anxieties and concerns that Singaporeans are facing (over jobs and livelihoods) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The career centres are a way to quell such worries and help citizens get back on their feet again.

“We are therefore working closely with our partners to set up the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Centres deeper within the heartlands to reach more Singaporeans, guide them in tapping the scaled-up opportunities and embark on new pathways that will fulfil their career aspirations even amid this Covid-19 storm,” he said.
“With the strong support from our partners, we will go through this trying time with Singaporeans and emerge stronger together.”

10. Heartening

Amid such tumultuous times, it’s heartening to see that the government is doing its best to keep everyone’s dreams alive. From nationwide payouts to various job support schemes, it’s safe to say that there’s really nothing else the nation could have done better, for its people.

But no amount of assistance will suffice if we don’t take strides of our own. They might lend us a walking cane, but only we can decide whether our legs choose to walk or rest.

So let’s get back up on our feet and try again. These might be trying times, but as long as we stay resilient and strong, there’ll never be an obstacle too high to scale. And if you need a starting point…

I dare say that these career centres will be a good beginning for your journey back to the top.

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