Committee of Supply 2026 debate, Day 4: Koh Poh Koon on support for career transitions across longer working lives

The government must move beyond supporting training and job-seeking - to support career longevity and empower workers to take action across career transitions, life stages and different forms of work. This is why the Ministry of Manpower will empower seniors to thrive in longer careers, build workplaces that support longer working lives and adapt employment protections. Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon, who outlined these key thrusts in parliament on Tuesday (Mar 3), pointed out that career support cannot wait until workers are near retirement. If the job drop-off starts from 50, then the interventions must begin at 40. To enable longer meaningful participation at work, Workforce Singapore will scale up career guidance for later-stage careers. The Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment is looking into a new centre for career longevity to bring service providers together to raise awareness, collaborate, develop and scale solutions for longer multi-stage careers. This centre could be co-located with existing career centres. It will release its report in the second half of 2026.