The recently-launched SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme is a new initiative aimed at providing temporary financial assistance to Singaporeans who have lost their jobs and are actively seeking new employment. While the scheme doesn’t apply to everyone, especially those under 21, it’s an important step in addressing the challenges that many Singaporeans face in today’s increasingly volatile job market.
In a Singapore where the job market continues to be so unpredictable, the need for a programme of any kind is a stark reminder that employment is not just about getting hired; it’s about keeping yourself hirable—often in the face of factors that are not under your control.
Jobseeker Support Scheme in a nutshell
The Jobseeker Support Scheme provides temporary financial aid to Singaporeans who are involuntarily unemployed and actively seeking work.
The scheme pays up to $6,000 over six months, in gradually reduced monthly payouts, down to $750 in the sixth month. In return, recipients must actively engage in any of 13 approved job-seeking activities—everything from going for interviews and applying for jobs, to attending career workshops and training courses. These activities are tracked through a points system (kind of like CCA points back in secondary days), and you’ll need to earn at least 10 points per month to continue receiving support.
Here’s a quick look at who’s eligible:
- Singaporeans aged 21 and above
- Previously earning $5,000/month or less
- Worked at least 6 of the last 12 months
- Involuntarily unemployed (eg. retrenched, dismissed, company closed, etc.)
- Lost their job on or before 1 April 2025 (PRs will be included starting in Q1 2026)
- Annual value of your residential property in Singapore is $31,000 or less (if you live in a condo, then you won’t qualify)
Those who qualify will need to apply for the scheme by 15 June 2025. The following documents are required:
- Official letter or notification of termination/dismissal by former employer
- If termination was due to medical reason, provide a Medical Certificate or Letter from Medical Institution/Doctor
- If you lost your job on or after 1 April 2024 and are still unemployed now, provide a PDF copy of your CPF Transaction History for the past 15 months, filtered to only include Employment Contributions
The processing time may take up to 10 days and you’ll be informed of the outcome via email. Payouts will be credited to your PayNow-NRIC linked bank account.
While the Jobseeker Support Scheme is here to help, many netizens criticised it as too complicated to claim, citing excessive conditions that could discourage lower-income or long-term unemployed individuals from applying.
A Pragmatic Approach to Unemployment?
The scheme is designed to offer short-term relief, not to replace a full salary, helping jobseekers focus on finding meaningful employment without financial stress. It is not public welfare but a temporary support measure.
Singapore takes a cautious approach to welfare, favouring targeted, means-tested support over broad assistance to avoid fostering dependency. The focus is on self-reliance, family support, and helping the needy through schemes like ComCare and Workfare. Instead of unconditional aid, the government invests in education and upskilling to promote long-term self-sufficiency.
As Lee Kuan Yew once said, “I departed from welfarism because it sapped a people’s self-reliance and their desire to excel and succeed.”
The Jobseeker Support Scheme closely echoes a proposal first put forward by the Workers’ Party (WP) in its 2001 manifesto, which called for temporary financial assistance for Singaporeans who were involuntarily unemployed and actively seeking work. At the time, the proposal was met with resistance from the ruling government, which maintained that such schemes could encourage dependency and undermine self-reliance. However, over the years—particularly in the wake of economic disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic—there has been a gradual softening of this stance.
If you’re still in school, employed, or haven’t been working long enough to qualify, the Jobseeker Support Scheme might feel like something that doesn’t concern you directly. However, the fact that a scheme like this exists gives us a glimpse into the evolving social compact in Singapore.
How Job Instability Hits Across Generations
The truth is, no one group is experiencing today’s job instability in exactly the same way. For older workers, the pace of change can be overwhelming. After decades in a single role or industry, being made redundant—especially in the face of automation, restructuring, or changing business models—can feel like being written off entirely.
Mid-career workers, many of whom entered the workforce during more stable economic times, are now being asked to pivot—to adapt, retrain, and reframe their career narratives in ways they may not have anticipated. And they’re doing this while juggling financial commitments, caregiving duties, or even just the emotional toll of losing professional footing.
And then there’s young Singaporeans just starting out—fresh grads, poly students, and early-career workers—who are facing a world where internships rarely lead to full-time roles, job offers are rescinded before they begin, and “entry-level” positions still ask for years of experience.
The challenges look different depending on where you are in your career. But the feeling is shared: the ground is shifting beneath us, and navigating work today demands more than just qualifications—it demands time, support, and frankly, breathing room to figure out your next move.
More than just “fixing” unemployment
Frankly, we can’t fix unemployment so easily, and our policymakers know it. While the scheme isn’t a blanket solution—and it’s still too early to tell—it does look like a practical approach to addressing unemployment in a way that balances targeted support with the reality of Singapore’s resources. If you need the assistance, you can check out their website and see if you qualify for the scheme.
