Reducing the number of job postings that focus on formal academic requirements

Parliament Sitting: 22 Sep 2025

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan: To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Public Service Division will consider reducing the number of job postings that focus on formal academic requirements to lead by example in implementing skills-based hiring.

Written Reply by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

The Public Service supports skills-based hiring and most of the Public Service job advertisements today do not include specific academic requirements. Agencies will consider candidates holistically based on their skills, competencies, work experience and alignment with the job’s requirements.

However, for certain jobs, such as those in specialised or technical fields such as accountancy, engineering, and legal services, candidates may still be required to acquire the relevant professional qualifications to perform their job effectively. In such cases, agencies would explain the need for such requirements.