Singapore Employability Skills System

The Singapore Employability Skills System (ESS) comprises a set of generic employability skills to raise a worker's effectiveness and improve his work abilities. These foundational skills, portable across all industries, enable workers of all levels to better adapt to new job demands, work challenges and changing work environments. As such, these skills complement other specific industry and occupational skills which are specialised or technical by nature.

The ESS was introduced by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency in November 2004 and piloted from November 2004 to 31 March 2005. The comprehensive phase was rolled out on 1 April 2005 with more than 14,500 people benefiting from the programme. It is now recognised by more than 20 training institutions and companies as an alternative to formal academic qualifications like the 'N' and 'O' levels, which are currently used as entry criteria into occupations and training programmes.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is one of the first supporters of ESS. Starting from the next intake in January 2007, ITE will adopt ESS certification as an alternative entrance requirement for Nitec courses. 

An expanded version of the system including an additional training module and computer adaptive testing technology was launched on 1 April 2006. A copy of the ESS Employers' Guide is available here.

WDA established the Centre for Employability Skills at 141 Redhill Road, Singapore 158828 to support the appraisal and certification of ESS Training.

The 10 Employability Skills (ES)

The 10 employability skills are:

	Workplace Literacy & Numeracy
	Information & Communications Technology
	Problem Solving & Decision Making
	Initiative & Enterprise
	Communication & Relationship Management
	Lifelong Learning
	Global Mindset
	Self-management
	Workplace-related Life Skills
	Health & Workplace Safety