Closing the Jobs Gap | Opening remarks by President Tharman | World Economic Forum 2025

[@mohamedfaroukkariapper7915]

SIR YOUR speech is a reflection of your wisdom for the future of nations. I hope leaders of nations will consider your vision seriously.

[@giuliocaprini-be2pj]

This is a very wise Leader.

[@ECOSAM-SG]

The global jobs gap is a stark reminder of how much work remains to ensure economic stability worldwide. 🌍 Here in Singapore, SMEs make up 99% of all enterprises, contribute 44% of our Nominal Value Added, and employ 71% of the workforce. 🇸🇬 By supporting local small businesses, we’re not just backing entrepreneurs-we’re creating jobs, driving innovation, and building resilience within our community. Every purchase we make today helps close that gap and shapes a stronger future for all. Who else believes in the power of backing local to make a difference? 🙌✨

[@loveneutrality3057]

👍

[@ssuwandi3240]

In the US, Biden simply crashed it since COVID .. Most horrible Presidency.. Worse than Carter. During the Vietnam war back in the 70s recession

[@NewmaticKe]

Not in the case of Singapore which has yoo small a market size. Most products and services and very much foreign linked

[@LiHongyiIAMPM]

Not PAP.

[@whatjusttalkaboutanything]

Actually quite a number of local enterprises outsource jobs overseas as well. Local SMEs should focus on development of core competencies rather than outsourcing jobs to other countries. The middle man game may not last in the pursue of cost efficiency.

[@LeaveThePhilippines]

This guy proves that you do not need high tech gadgets to be smart - he is still using the plain old notebook but his timely wisdom is so relevant to our present times.

[@faridabdullah9306]

WOW great value speech

[@MDSaiful-xt7fm]

Tharman ❤️

[@cgg8740]

Parents in Singapore spends $1.8bln per year on private tuition for school-going children. That means Singapore’s is really a private school system with private education ranking at the top. We spend on education, stress out the young generation, and yet Singaporeans are not competitive in global jobs markets. There are not even enough spaces in local universities for the population. The uncompetitiveness starts from there. Our two main universities are difficult to enter due to too high academic thresholds. Polytechnic diplomas don’t have a global equivalent outside of Singapore but diplomas also represent 3 years of tertiary education and why not rebrand these diplomas as university degrees? The system isn’t working as well as it should to link a good education to good universities and hence good jobs.

[@NewmaticKe]

Budget for public education is more than 14b

[@billyngwawa]

Parents who are ignorant of how much govt is paying for your SG child 😂

[@atsedap]

We all know that the perception of the need for private tuition is mostly a psychological one - mainly the need to get ahead and not to be left behind. It has little to do with the education system. Second, it is a sweeping statement to say that Singaporeans are not competitive in the global job market. It is also irresponsible statement without justification or basis. Third, university admission does not equate excellence in education; nor is a degree to be perceived as always superior to a diploma (there are lots of types of diplomas, many postgrad ones) The management of our national ed system, as Chan CS stated recently, must be dynamic (including being flexible) and relevant. I believe that Minister Chan is on the right track, although it is a very rough road

[@8August1988]

Just dump conscription-cum-lifelong-reservist liability.

[@8August1988]

@@atsedap: Just dump conscription-cum-lifelong-reservist liability.

[@Sgscouser]

straight from the horse's mouth and our MOM minister denies that there is underemployment in Singapore.

[@JacksonWong-pw4zq]

To singapore pap ceca endians cones first othrr foreigners 2nd to 20 position singaporeans last in position, , pap wants singaporeans to serve , bow down and to worship foreigners .

[@anziar3038]

S'poreans are blessed with a first-world PAP govt ranked the most effective in the world.👍👍

[@JacksonWong-pw4zq]

Most expensive yes but not even average , best ?

[@JacksonWong-pw4zq]

Self praise is big disgrace

[@LiHongyiIAMPM]

Did President TS think he was speaking to a Singaporean crowd? This is WEF on global unemployment. Also, why would he falsely think that SG has the gold standard when it comes to employment? SG has many of the same unsolved problems. TS is himself a sell-out and has no credibility to lecture others on employment and equality. What a poor opening by TS. He is an embarrassment to SG.

[@ravindrandoraisamy9758]

More important stuff to deal with in SINGAPORE..

[@gracemwende8054]

Am EU 🇪🇺 nomaly

[@Confidence_and_Fitness]

you can't fight for your local minimum wages, what do you care about?

[@RichKnowledge-r6r]

I have no problem with trump :)

[@maikeirini4631]

He should stay home and behave like a President! He still acts like he's in the government!

[@8August1988]

I suggest asking the Malay impostor (not Mahathir) to come back.

[@Zayn-jc4zt]

cos he is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the WEF

[@Ashley.sg222]

Tharnan has lost my respect. Shame on him for what he did when he ran for election

[@tonykwok9763]

👎👎👎👎👎🇸🇬PAP GOV

[@tanpengjoo7205]

Why talk about other part of the world jobs , take care of local breed Singaporean talent jobs first not keep importing foreigners whther talent or not it directly or indirectly affecting local breed . Before local can get a decent jobs even after skills upgrade many welm paying jobs are taken away by foreigners with so-called " s " holders . Why worry about other country, take care of our local breed first when our salary are not as high as foreigners where our neighbours worker coming here working the same salaries back hine build bug landed houses. Our small island population ministers and president salary are paid higher than big countries with natural disasters.

[@NewmaticKe]

Leader's salaries should be linked to natural disasters, seriously?

[@Nick-pc9tf]

It's called the World Economic Forum. His asked view is for worldwide not just domestic.

[@8August1988]

Just dump conscription-cum-lifelong-reservist liability.

[@zanderdan9710]

Exactly, if he is working for WEF, he should be on "no pay leave".

[@mariantia926]

Let be real.Your job as president will not be yours if in the previous competition tan cheng bock has won without lhl changing law. The greatest joke in Singapore context is your group is ringfenced from competition resulted your won 😂🤣😅

[@NewmaticKe]

Election is not fortune telling

[@khtay8731]

🐽boo hoo🐷🥶💭

[@8August1988]

Just dump conscription-cum-lifelong-reservist liability.