The Ministry of Health said in a press release on Tuesday (25 August) that the healthcare industry will be offering 7,500 jobs, and 1,600 traineeships, attachments and skills training opportunities to individuals in the country from now till the end of next year.
These vacancies can be applied by both fresh graduates as well as mid-career job seekers.
“The healthcare sector continues to offer meaningful employment opportunities for Singaporeans. From now until end 2021, the healthcare sector will be offering up to a total of about 7,500 jobs, and about 1,600 traineeships, attachments and skills training opportunities,” MOH.
It added, “The majority of these positions are suitable for fresh graduates entering the workforce and mid-career jobseekers with or without prior healthcare background. These vacancies and opportunities will help to fulfil current and future expanding needs for healthcare services, given Singapore’s ageing population.”
This announcement comes as Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated in his addendum to the President’s address at the opening of the first session of the 14th Parliament that MOH plans to strengthen Singapore’s healthcare system for the long-term.
“We must continue to ensure that quality healthcare remains accessible and affordable, and that our healthcare system can better and more sustainably serve the evolving health needs of Singaporeans,” Mr Gan said.
Job openings
MOH explained in the press release that one-third of the 7,500 jobs are allocated for healthcare professionals which include nurses and allied health professionals, while the remaining will include support care and administrative and ancillary roles.
It added that jobs for healthcare professional are meant for fresh graduates from healthcare training programmes as well as Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) graduates who are mid-career job seekers who are entering into the healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, there are also 200 nursing and allied health PCP training places available every year, and MOH will add another 100 places in 2021.
Separately, vacancies in support care and administrative and ancillary roles are for fresh graduates and mid-career job seekers without a background in healthcare.
These include service management position such as patient service associates, blended job roles like supporting non-clinical care or administrative positions, as well as managerial and executive roles. Training, on-boarding and orientation for these positions will be given.
Separately, Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore are also working to give 1,600 traineeships, attachment and skills training opportunities in order to offer “relevant working experience” and “work-ready skills”.
During the training period, employers and trainees will receive funding support.
“Fresh or recent graduates can tap on the SGUnited Traineeships Programme, while mid-career individuals can apply for attachments available under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme, to join the healthcare sector,” MOH said.
It continued, “The traineeships and attachments last between four to nine months in duration, and are available for various roles, including patient service associates, dental surgery assistants and other admin and ancillary roles. Employers can consider hiring well-performing trainees and mid-career individuals at any time during or after the completion of the traineeship or attachment.”
On the other hand, mid-career job seekers who are looking to apply for skills training in healthcare roles like support staff and executives in clinical and non-clinical roles can apply to the SGUnited Skills programme.
The training lasts between six to 12 months for different roles like healthcare assistants, therapy assistants, community care coordinators, pharmacy technicians and health managers and administrators.
All these job opportunities and vacancies will be made available progressively over 2020 and 2021, and job seekers can find these opportunities on Workforce Singapore’s MyCareersFuture job portal, and various job fairs and recruitment platforms, MOH said.
