More firms and workers are finding Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training useful, though fewer workers are reporting better career outcomes such as pay rises and promotions, according to an annual survey by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) released on Thursday.

The survey of 1,400 companies and 8,400 trainee workers found that in 2012, more companies said that WSQ was useful and improved work productivity, product quality and sales and profitability, compared to 2011.

More workers also found WSQ useful, and reported a better ability to apply skills, better work performance, and greater motivation at work. But slightly fewer reported good career outcomes. For instance, 15.2 per cent said they received a pay increment after training, down from 16.6 per cent in 2011.

A separate study by the WDA, however, found that workers who completed WSQ modules earned more than workers of a similar profile - such as age and education - who had not. For instance, in 2010, workers who had completed at least one module the year before were earning 4.3 per cent more than their counterparts who had not.