Singapore’s economic growth continues to defy forecasts. After a 5.9% year-on-year increase in Q2 2026, the GDP growth forecast for the year was upgraded from 2.0% to 4.0% in February to 4.5% to 5.5% in August. Yet, in Singapore’s labour market, the number of retrenchments per quarter is rising, and the resident unemployment rate has slowly ticked back up to 3.0% for the first time since 2022. According to the Ministry of Manpower, “against a more uncertain global outlook and rapid technological change, companies will need to keep adapting and investing in their workforce, while workers will need to keep their skills relevant.” One way the government is supporting this is through the Mid-Career Pathways Programme.
The Mid-Career Pathways Programme is a full-time attachment programme for workers aged 40 and above, lasting four to six months. It helps mature mid-career individuals to widen their professional networks, gain meaningful industry-relevant skills and experience, and boost their employability. Think of it as an internship for older workers, where strong performance could open doors with the host organisation or the broader industry.
During their attachment, the trainees can receive between $1,800 to $3,800 a month, with the government funding 70% of the attachment allowance.
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The Programme was first introduced in 2020, amid the COVID pandemic, as part of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package under SkillsFuture Singapore. At Budget 2022, it was announced that it would be made permanent, and is now being overseen by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency, the new statutory board formed through the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, under the Ministry of Manpower.
Who Is The Mid-Career Pathways Programme For
All Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 40 and above are eligible to apply. Trainees should be able to commit to the programme full-time if selected.
That said, you won’t be eligible if you are already an employee of the host organisation, or were employed by them at least 6 months ago. Shareholders, individuals related to shareholders, and certain employees of the host organisation are also not eligible.
While you are encouraged to stay on in the attachment until the end, you may leave at any time, as long as you have good reasons. You will be expected to provide sufficient notice to your host organisation, as stipulated by the signed attachment agreements. Similarly, your host organisation can terminate the attachment, as long as it gives you sufficient notice.
At the end of the attachment, if your performance meets the standards set by the host organisation, they must hire you on a full-time basis for at least 12 months. The salary offered must be the same or higher than the attachment allowance.
To encourage early conversion to full-time employment, the government will continue to provide 70% of the attachment allowance for trainees who have completed at least 3 months of the attachment.
How Is The Mid-Career Pathways Programme Different From Full Employment
Because trainees are not employees, host organisations are not obliged to offer any employment benefits. This means that, should they offer annual leave and medical leave, it is on a discretionary goodwill basis.
They may not offer any monetary benefits, such as encashing leave offered during the attachment or providing CPF contributions during this period.
That said, host organisations must provide insurance coverage that offers reasonable protection for workplace accidents and injuries during the attachment period.
What Roles Are Currently Available
As this is a permanent programme, there is a fixed filter on the MyCareersFuture site for roles offered under the Mid-Career Pathways Programme.
As of this article’s publication, 25 such roles are available, with attachment allowances between $2,300 and $3,800. They span a broad range of industries, including F&B, sales, retail, and customer service, as well as management roles in marketing and operations.
The Skills and Workforce Development Agency has appointed the Singapore Business Federation to review and ensure each attachment is high quality and provides meaningful opportunities for trainees, with the goal of hiring the individual upon completion.
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