SINGAPORE: With the deepening crisis, more Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) are heeding the call to upgrade their skills. The number of jobless PMETs seeking help at the Employment and Employability Institute (E2i) has doubled since the start of this year.
Besides nationwide schemes such as the just-announced Professional Skills Programme, even individuals are pitching in to help those joining the jobless ranks. One such individual is 47-year-old Gilbert Goh.
Goh understands how it feels like to be unemployed. From the September 11th attacks till the SARs outbreak in 2003, he was jobless for 20 months after leaving his insurance job.
From that experience and knowing that the current recession will see even more retrenchments, he came up with this online counselling and support website http://transitioning.org/ especially for laid-off PMETs last month.
He said: “Some are as young as 25 years old. Some unemployed might not want to show their face to the public by going to the CDC or even go to counselling. So the website can actually offer them online form of counselling.”
He has also written a book called “How to Survive Unemployment: A Survival Guide for the Jobless”. It will be launched on March 7, with a print-run of 3,000 copies.
In fact, Goh himself is facing the bleak prospect of being unemployed again once his contract as a private school teacher ends this April. But he has already started on a Masters in Counselling course, hoping it will lead to his next career.
He said the Professional Skills Programme announced at Sunday’s Tripartism Forum will be appreciated by PMETs who prefer to remain in the same industry.
Transitioning.org is planning to work with the Workforce Development Agency and labour movement to hold support and networking sessions for PMETs.
Ong Ye Kung, assistant secretary-general, NTUC Chairman, e2i, said: “For PMETs, I think firstly, we will invite them to our executive workshops. More can be done in terms of introducing new programmes, understanding what other skills and competencies that are required in the labour market.”
Ong said PMETs have to be very realistic in their expectations and ensure their skills are transferable.
He added that high-end investments like ION Orchard, integrated resorts and upcoming chemical and pharmaceutical plants will provide more job openings for PMETs. – CNA/vm
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