More Singaporeans keen on further education: Survey

More Singaporeans keen on further education: Survey

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans are keen to take up further education, a new survey has found - particularly those aged 60 and over.

Recruitment firm CareerBuilder Singapore polled more than 3,000 adults last year and found that 26 per cent were interested in studying for a diploma, an 8 per cent rise from 2013.

The biggest rise in interest was seen among older workers. More than half - 52 per cent - of over-60s wanted to pursue a diploma, up from 15 per cent last year.

According to the JobsCentral Learning Survey Report 2014, the surge is likely due to the Government's efforts in championing the continued employment of older workers through training grants.

The survey also found that more degree holders were keen on postgraduate studies. Almost half - 48 per cent - said they were keen on furthering their qualifications, compared with 42 per cent last year.

Ms Jessica Ang, strategic marketing director of CareerBuilder, said:"Working adults may feel that equipping themselves with a diploma could open the doors to a promotion, or are taking the opportunity to study when they may not have had the chance to do so when they were younger."

Respondents largely cited career-related reasons as their main motivation.

Twenty-one per cent of respondents listed career advancement as the key reason for continuing studies, followed by employability improvement (17 per cent), and prospect of switching industry (8 per cent).

Other motivations included self-improvement (20 per cent) and personal interest (13 per cent).

The vast majority - 87 per cent of respondents polled - expected their salaries to go up upon receiving a qualification, with 27 per cent looking to receive an increase of between 30 per cent and 59 per cent.

Ms Ang said: "Overall, more people are viewing receiving higher education as significant, and consider it important to career advancement.

"This is especially prevalent in adult learners, who may also see an education upgrade as essential in keeping up with their younger co-workers.

"With the numerous government subsidies and grants available, many who were not financially able to continue their studies previously may take the chance to do so now."

The survey was conducted online from October to November last year. Of the 3,078 polled, 54 per cent were under the age of 31 and 62 per cent were working adults with full-time positions.


This article was first published on January 21, 2015.
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