The great graduate divide: Why the job hunt is a struggle for some fresh graduates
The 2025 graduate job market in Singapore shows a stark divide, where some graduates struggle to find work despite high qualifications while others in specialized fields receive multiple offers. Data suggests that while entry-level jobs are available, there is a mismatch between graduate aspirations and market demand.
Why it matters
This highlights structural issues in the labor market and the importance of aligning educational outcomes with industry needs.
Many in the 2025 cohort found some kind of work – full-time, part-time or freelance – within six months.
For others, the search is a marathon with no end in sight.
Only a handful of replies have trickled in.
A final-round interview is even harder to come by.
Even then, there is no guarantee of an offer.
There are enough entry-level jobs, but these are not necessarily in the sectors that many aspire to join.
By all accounts, Ho was a model job seeker.
The 25-year-old, who graduated at the top of his cohort from a local university, had completed four internships at companies including DBS Bank. He also attended about 10 career fairs and networking events, and sent out more than 300 resumes in his bid to land a role in the finance sector.
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