Survey figures show rise in salaries for fresh graduates entering job market

SINGAPORE - Even as the government opens up new pathways to persuade school leavers to further themselves through work and study schemes, the latest employment survey for university graduates shows that a degree pays off in terms of jobs and salaries.

The results of the survey which were released on Friday show that the median salaries for the class of 2014 rose to a new high of $3,200, up from $3,050 for the class of 2013.

The employment rate remained at the same high level with nine in 10 finding jobs within six months of completing their degree studies last year.

A total of 10,126 out of 13,656 graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) took part in the joint survey.

The three universities also had a separate survey of 638 graduates from architecture, biomedical science (traditional Chinese medicine), law, medicine and pharmacy courses, who had to spend a year or more on practical training such as pupilage or housemanship, before starting work proper.

The overall employment rate of this group, most of whom completed their studies two years ago, was 98.9 per cent.

The median gross monthly pay for those who received full-time positions was $4,800, up from $4,500 in 2013.

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