Introduction: Easing the Cost of Talent Acquisition
Hiring in Singapore has never been more challenging. With wages rising, talent competition tightening, and industries transforming faster than ever, employers—especially SMEs—face increasing pressure to attract and retain skilled workers while keeping manpower costs sustainable.
Recognising these challenges, the Singapore Government has continued to provide a comprehensive range of hiring and workforce support grants in 2025. These schemes aim to help businesses recruit new staff, retain mature workers, reskill employees, and redesign jobs for productivity.
Whether you’re in F&B, logistics, professional services, healthcare, or technology, understanding the available hiring grants can make a real difference in managing costs and building a resilient team.
This guide covers the main hiring-related grants available in 2025, how they work, and how Singapore businesses can leverage them strategically.
1. Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs)
Purpose
The Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) are one of the most versatile hiring grants available to employers. They help companies hire mid-career individuals or reskill existing employees for new or expanded job roles.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 90% of salary and training course fee support during the training period, which typically lasts between 3 to 6 months.
Ideal For
- Businesses hiring individuals from other industries
- Companies reskilling staff for new technologies or processes
- SMEs that want to manage onboarding costs while ensuring employees are properly trained
Why It Matters
The CCP is particularly useful in industries facing manpower shortages, such as logistics, retail, healthcare, and hospitality. It allows businesses to tap into Singapore’s pool of experienced mid-career professionals while reducing the financial risk of hiring and training.
2. Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI)
Purpose
The Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) aims to encourage employers to expand local hiring—especially among mature workers, persons with disabilities, and those who have been unemployed for some time.
Funding Support
The government co-funds between 15% and 50% of the first six months of wages for eligible new local hires, depending on the profile of the employee.
Ideal For
- Businesses expanding their local workforce
- Employers hiring older Singaporeans or long-term unemployed individuals
- Companies that want to strengthen their local core while maintaining cost control
Why It Matters
With a tight labour market and strong competition for local talent, the JGI helps offset salary costs, encouraging employers to hire Singaporeans even during uncertain times.
3. Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS)
Purpose
The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) supports employers in implementing wage increases for lower-wage Singaporean employees, in line with Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM).
Funding Support
For 2025, the government will co-fund up to 40% of wage increases given to eligible local employees earning up to S$2,500 per month.
Ideal For
- F&B, retail, cleaning, and security sectors where PWM applies
- SMEs seeking to retain lower-wage employees while remaining compliant with labour policies
Why It Matters
Many SMEs struggle to adjust to higher PWM wage levels. The PWCS provides a buffer, allowing businesses to gradually raise salaries while maintaining competitiveness and morale.
4. Senior Employment Credit (SEC)
Purpose
The Senior Employment Credit (SEC) encourages employers to hire and retain Singaporeans aged 60 and above.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 7% wage offset for eligible senior employees earning up to S$4,000 a month.
Ideal For
- Businesses in service sectors that rely on experienced workers
- Companies wanting to build age-friendly workplaces
- Employers offering part-time or flexible arrangements to seniors
Why It Matters
With Singapore’s workforce ageing, senior employees bring invaluable experience, reliability, and customer service skills. The SEC helps businesses keep these employees meaningfully engaged while reducing payroll burden.
5. Part-Time Re-Employment Grant (PTRG)
Purpose
The Part-Time Re-Employment Grant (PTRG) supports employers in offering part-time or flexible work arrangements to senior workers who wish to remain employed beyond the statutory retirement age.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to S$2,500 per eligible senior employee, with a maximum of S$125,000 per company.
Ideal For
- Restaurants, retail, or hospitality businesses needing flexible manpower
- Companies that want to retain experienced workers on part-time schedules
- Employers implementing age-friendly and flexible workplace policies
Why It Matters
This grant encourages companies to create flexible, sustainable employment opportunities for older workers while easing manpower gaps.
6. Enabling Employment Credit (EEC)
Purpose
The Enabling Employment Credit (EEC) encourages inclusive hiring by supporting employers who hire persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Funding Support
Employers receive up to 20% of the employee’s monthly wages, capped at S$400 per employee, for those earning below S$4,000 per month.
Additional support of another 20% is available if the employee has been unemployed for at least six months before being hired.
Ideal For
- Businesses interested in inclusive hiring
- Restaurants, retail outlets, and logistics firms with adaptable roles
- Companies seeking to diversify their workforce and fulfil social responsibility goals
Why It Matters
The EEC lowers the barrier for companies to hire persons with disabilities by subsidising wages, while promoting workplace inclusion and diversity.
7. Uplifting Employment Credit (UEC)
Purpose
The Uplifting Employment Credit (UEC) supports employers hiring ex-offenders who are seeking a second chance in the workforce.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 20% of monthly wages, capped at S$600 per employee, for the first nine months of employment.
Ideal For
- Employers in industries like food services, logistics, or cleaning that need reliable manpower
- Businesses aligned with corporate social responsibility and inclusive employment
Why It Matters
Beyond financial aid, this grant helps businesses make a meaningful social impact by supporting reintegration and tapping into an underutilised talent pool.
8. Career Trial Programme
Purpose
The Career Trial programme allows employers to assess jobseekers’ suitability through short-term work trials before formal hiring.
Funding Support
The government provides an allowance of up to S$7.50 per hour, co-funding up to 480 hours of work trial per participant.
Ideal For
- Employers who want to test new hires before committing to full-time employment
- Small businesses or F&B operators where turnover can be high
Why It Matters
The Career Trial programme helps reduce hiring risks while giving jobseekers valuable exposure to different industries.
9. Job Redesign (JR) Grant under Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
Purpose
The Job Redesign (JR) Grant supports businesses in transforming job roles to improve productivity, enhance job quality, and attract local talent.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 70% of consultancy and implementation costs, capped at S$30,000 per company.
Ideal For
- Businesses implementing technology or automation
- Companies facing manpower shortages and looking to optimise workflows
- Employers who want to redesign roles for older workers or new technologies
Why It Matters
By redesigning jobs, businesses can make roles more appealing, improve staff morale, and attract younger Singaporeans to industries previously seen as physically demanding.
10. SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)
Purpose
The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) encourages employers to invest in employee training and workforce transformation.
Funding Support
Eligible employers receive a one-time S$10,000 credit, which covers up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses related to training or job redesign initiatives.
Ideal For
- SMEs building internal training and development systems
- Companies using grants like CCP or Job Redesign but needing help with remaining costs
Why It Matters
SFEC complements other hiring grants by helping businesses train and retain their new hires more effectively.
11. Workforce Development Grant (WDG)
Purpose
Introduced in 2025, the Workforce Development Grant (WDG) consolidates several manpower-related schemes to support job redesign, workforce planning, and skills upgrading.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 70% funding support for consultancy, job redesign, and skills development projects.
Ideal For
- Businesses undergoing digital transformation or restructuring
- Companies that want to enhance job attractiveness and retain employees
Why It Matters
The WDG reflects Singapore’s long-term commitment to workforce transformation. It helps employers make systemic changes to their work environment rather than short-term fixes.
12. Workfare Skills Support (WSS)
Purpose
The Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme encourages employers to support lower-wage workers in attending training courses.
Funding Support
Employers can receive up to 95% of course fees and 95% absentee payroll funding for eligible employees attending approved training.
Ideal For
- SMEs in retail, cleaning, logistics, and F&B
- Companies that want to train their existing workforce while maintaining operations
Why It Matters
Training and upskilling not only improve staff retention but also enhance service quality and overall productivity.
13. Combining Hiring Grants for Maximum Impact
A single grant can make a difference—but when combined thoughtfully, these schemes can transform an entire hiring and retention strategy.
Example 1: Hiring and Reskilling Mid-Career Talent
A logistics SME can hire a mid-career professional through a Career Conversion Programme, offset training costs with SFEC, and enhance the role using the Job Redesign Grant.
Example 2: Retaining Senior Employees
A retail chain can keep older staff by combining the Senior Employment Credit with the Part-Time Re-Employment Grant, ensuring flexibility while maintaining experience within the team.
Example 3: Building an Inclusive Workforce
A restaurant can hire persons with disabilities under the EEC, use UEC for ex-offenders, and claim Job Redesign support to create accessible workstations and processes.
These combinations demonstrate how hiring grants are not isolated incentives—they are tools that, when used strategically, can transform the way businesses hire and manage their people.
14. Key Considerations When Applying
Before applying for any hiring grant, companies should take note of a few best practices:
- Apply early: Some grants, like CCPs and PSG-JR, require approval before starting the project or hiring.
- Maintain proper documentation: Keep employment contracts, payslips, training records, and invoices ready for verification.
- Understand eligibility: Most grants apply to Singapore-registered businesses with at least 30% local shareholding and active CPF contributions.
- Track performance outcomes: Many grants require follow-up reporting on employee retention or job redesign results.
- Plan holistically: Align grants with long-term HR and business transformation goals instead of treating them as one-time subsidies.
Conclusion: Turning Government Support into Growth
2025 presents a wide range of hiring grants designed to help Singapore businesses grow their workforce sustainably. Whether it’s through hiring support like the Jobs Growth Incentive, training initiatives like the Career Conversion Programme, or inclusive schemes like the Enabling Employment Credit, employers have an entire ecosystem of assistance to tap into.
By leveraging these grants effectively, businesses can reduce manpower costs, attract stronger talent, and retain employees longer—all while building a more inclusive and future-ready workplace.
The key is to take a proactive approach: understand your workforce needs, identify suitable grants, and apply them strategically as part of your HR roadmap.
With thoughtful planning, these 2025 hiring grants aren’t just subsidies—they’re stepping stones toward building stronger, smarter, and more resilient Singapore businesses.