Fresh polytechnic graduates draw higher starting salaries in 2013: Survey

The results showed that graduates' employment rate dipped slightly. For fresh graduates, the overall employment rate last year was 89.8 per cent, down from 91 per cent in 2012. For post-NS graduates, the figure was 92.8 per cent, a drop from 93.1 per cent in 2012.

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SINGAPORE - A recent survey showed that polytechnic fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment enjoy a slight increase in starting salaries last year relative to 2012.

The median gross monthly salary among fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment was $2,000 last year, up 2.6 per cent from $1,950 in 2012.

Post-National Service (NS) graduates in full-time permanent employment enjoyed a median gross monthly salary of $2,250, comparable to that of $2,253 in 2012.

The improving starting salaries of fresh graduates attest to the strong value that employers continue to place on skilled polytechnic graduates, said Republic Polytechnic in a press release today.

The annual Graduate Employment Survey is jointly conducted by Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek Polytechnics to ascertain the employment status of polytechnic graduates, as at six months after the graduates' final examinations.

Conducted between October and November 2013, the survey attracted a total of 14,339 respondents comprising of fresh graduates not liable for National Service (NS), who completed their studies in 2013, and post-NS graduates of 2010.

Fresh graduates from the Built Environment, Engineering & Maritime; Health Sciences; and Information & Digital Technologies courses enjoyed median gross monthly salaries of $2,000.

Post-NS graduates from the Health Sciences, Built Environment, Engineering & Marine, and the Business, Management, Design & Others course categories enjoyed median gross monthly salaries of at least $2,300.

ngkaren@sph.com.sg