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SIM Global Education issued the guide titled “A SIM Guide to Comparing Graduate Salaries and Employability in Singapore” that drew on the Skills and Workforce Development Agency’s PEI Graduate Employment Survey for 2024/2025. The institution reported that 81.0 percent of its surveyed graduates secured employment within six months of completing their studies, ahead of the 78.9 percent average across all private education institutions. SIM also recorded a median gross monthly salary of S$3,565 for those in full-time permanent roles compared with the PEI-wide median of S$3,500, according to the survey that covered 1,726 fresh SIM respondents at a 61.4 percent response rate.
The announcement highlighted that 47.0 percent of SIM graduates entered full-time permanent employment, marginally above the 46.9 percent PEI sector figure. Graduates from the institution have taken positions in sectors ranging from aviation and aerospace engineering to banking and financial services, information and communications technology with cybersecurity, healthcare, logistics, retail and manufacturing. SIM noted in the guide that individual outcomes depend on specific programmes pursued, skills developed during studies, internship experience and broader economic conditions at the time of job entry.
A separate joint survey of autonomous universities published by the Ministry of Education found that fresh graduates from NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT, SUSS and SUTD achieved an overall employment rate of 88.9 percent within six months and a median starting salary of S$4,500 for full-time permanent positions. That survey, which drew responses from nearly 20,000 graduates across the six public institutions, showed particularly strong results in computing, engineering and business disciplines where medians often exceeded S$5,000. The Ministry of Education data underscores the continued premium placed on degrees from these universities in Singapore’s graduate labour market.
The SIM guide recommended that students and parents evaluate institutions using four criteria including relevance of the qualification to intended career paths, expected return through salary and progression, readiness supported by career services and resilience in navigating industry shifts. It detailed SIM’s offerings in resume writing workshops, interview preparation sessions, career fairs, employer networking events and internship guidance to build these attributes. Such support forms part of the institution’s approach to improving graduate transitions the statement added.
According to the Straits Times, the latest PEI survey confirmed that fewer than half of private institution graduates secure full-time permanent work although overall employment and salary levels have remained relatively stable. The Skills and Workforce Development Agency published the full 2024/2025 findings on its website to allow direct access to breakdowns by institution and course. SIM directed readers to its dedicated graduate outcomes page for further programme-specific details and historical trends.
The guide stressed that starting salary alone does not capture long-term career potential or job satisfaction factors that should also inform education decisions. It encouraged consultation of both the PEI survey and autonomous university results when comparing pathways in Singapore’s higher education landscape. SIM maintained that its performance relative to the PEI benchmark reflects the value of its industry-aligned programmes and student support framework.
