Career Trial
Career Trial provides employers with a short-term trial arrangement to assess jobseekers' suitability before committing to permanent employment. During the trial period, jobseekers receive a training allowance funded by WSG, reducing the hiring risk for employers while giving jobseekers an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. NOTE: Career Trial applications are currently CLOSED. Enhanced job redesign support is now available separately through WDG(JR+) under the EWTP, launched from March 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- 01
Programme is currently CLOSED for new applications
- 02
Existing approved trials can still proceed and claim
- 03
Short-term trial: up to 480 hours (full-time) or 240 hours (part-time)
Existing Applications and Claims
Applications are currently CLOSED.
For existing approved Career Trial participants: 1. Submit Training Allowance (TA) claims through Career Trial portal during/after trial completion 2. TA claim deadline: 6 months from jobseeker application approval date 3. Retention Incentive claim: 9 months from CT end date 4. Additional Retention Incentive claim: 12 months from CT end date
Claims and Disbursement
For existing approved trials only: - Training Allowance claims: Submit through Career Trial portal - TA disbursed directly to jobseeker's bank account once approved - Retention Incentive claims: 9 months from CT end date - Additional Retention Incentive claims: 12 months from CT end date - Approved CT jobseekers must commence by 31 May 2025 for usual claims timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Career Trial applications are currently CLOSED for new applications.
Yes, existing approved trials can still proceed and submit claims per the established deadlines.
Training allowance ranges from $7.50 to $15.00 per hour, paid directly to the jobseeker.
Employers can receive $500 for 3 months retention and $1,000 for 6 months retention (additional criteria applies).
Enhanced job redesign support is now available separately through WDG(JR+) under the EWTP, launched from March 2026.
Related Grants
Career Conversion Programmes (CCP)
Workforce Singapore
Up to 90% salary support (enhanced for long-term unemployed or mature workers aged 40+). Course fee subsidies up to 90% for SC/PR.
Career Conversion Programmes (CCP), also known as Place-and-Train and Job Redesign Reskilling programmes, are sector-specific programmes supported by Workforce Singapore that help mid-career workers reskill into new occupations or new sectors with good prospects. Employers hiring or reskilling Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents receive salary support during the conversion period. Note: Enhanced job redesign support is provided separately through the SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant (Job Redesign+), or WDG(JR+), under the Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package (EWTP), launched from March 2026.
Mid-Career Pathways Programme (MCPP)
Workforce Singapore
Attachment allowance: $1,800-$3,800/month. Government funds 70% of allowance.
The Mid-Career Pathways Programme (MCPP) is designed to support mid-career individuals in their skills development and career transition journey. NOTE: Specific programme details are not readily available. Broader job redesign support is now available separately through WDG(JR+) under the Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package (EWTP), launched from March 2026.
Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS)
IRAS
40% co-funding for 2025, 20% co-funding for 2026 (enhanced rates from Budget 2025)
The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) provides transitional wage support for employers to adjust to mandatory wage increases for lower-wage workers covered by the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) and Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) requirements, and to voluntarily raise wages of lower-wage workers. The Government co-funds eligible wage increases for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents from 2022 to 2026. Budget 2025 enhanced the co-funding rates for 2025 and 2026. The PWCS is administered by IRAS and requires no application from employers — payouts are automatically computed and disbursed based on CPF contribution data.
SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
Up to $15,000 per trainee (Mentor Grant: $5,000, OJT Blueprint: $5,000, Administrative: $2,000, Overseas Attachment: up to $8,000). Trainees receive $5,000 sign-on incentive.
The SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes (WSPs) are offered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and SkillsFuture-appointed private training providers. WSPs provide fresh graduates and mid-career individuals a head-start in careers related to their discipline of study through work-study arrangements within organisations. Employers participate as host employers by opening their workplace and offering structured training to WSP trainees. Take-up has increased steadily: enrolled trainees in Work-Study Diploma programmes (ITE) increased from 500 in 2021 to around 1,300 in 2024, while Work-Study Degree programmes grew from 300 in 2021 to around 800 in 2023. Based on recent surveys, approximately 7 in 10 graduates stayed with the company that hired and trained them, demonstrating strong retention outcomes.
TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA)
IMDA
Salary support grants for trainees (up to 12 months), course fee grants for CCPs, full-time 6-month programme for PAIP, enhanced internship and apprenticeship funding for TIP Alliance
TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) is a SkillsFuture initiative driven by IMDA in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Workforce Singapore (WSG), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the industry. It aims to build and develop a skilled Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce for Singapore's digital economy. TeSA takes an integrated approach to ICT skills acquisition and practitioner training, enabling professionals to acquire relevant in-demand skills. TeSA comprises several key programmes: (1) Company-Led Training (CLT) — a structured on-the-job training programme for fresh, mid-career, and mature professionals to acquire tech skills for in-demand roles; (2) Career Conversion Programmes (CCP) — for PMETs and mid-career switchers to undergo skills conversion into new tech occupations; (3) Pinnacle AI Industry Programme (PAIP) — for frontier companies to upskill local AI talent in LLM development; (4) TeSA for ITE and Polytechnics (TIP) Alliance — placing and training Polytechnic and ITE graduates in tech roles; (5) Jobs Transformation Map — mapping the future of tech jobs; and (6) Skills-Based Hiring — encouraging employers to hire based on skills rather than qualifications.
Company-Led Training Programme (CLT)
Infocomm Media Development Authority
Full salary support for up to 12 months during training
IMDA's Company-Led Training (CLT) programme is designed to accelerate the professional development of fresh professionals, mid-career professionals and mature PMETs in the tech and media sectors. It provides on-the-job training to equip trainees with competencies for jobs in demand by industry, especially those supporting digital economy sector transformation efforts. The programme covers in-demand job roles in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure, Product Development, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Virtual Production and more. Trainees gain employment and receive a salary while being equipped with in-demand tech and media skills, working on projects guided by experienced mentors.