Over 10,000 jobs to be offered with launch of year-long job fair initiative in East Coast

SINGAPORE – Former marketing executive Gerraine Lin, who stopped working for two years to pursue a degree full-time, hopes to rejoin the workforce after she graduates in May.

She studied sports science at Edith Cowan University but is keen to join the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a marketing role.

The 35-year-old is also open to other opportunities offered at East Side Best Careers, a year-long initiative launched on Jan 14 by the East Coast GRC team to bring employers, career pathways and skills support directly into the community.

“Working near home will allow me to spend more time with my kids,” said the Joo Chiat resident, who is a mother of two.

An upcoming event under the initiative is East Side OneAviation Careers, jointly organised with CAAS and the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), in partnership with NTUC and its aerospace and aviation cluster of unions.

This fair, to be held on Feb 28 and March 1 at Heartbeat@Bedok, will feature jobs across the aviation sector. To date, 13 aviation companies, including SATS and Scoot, have confirmed participation in the fair.

Many aviation workers live in the east near the airport, and working with local communities will allow CAAS to expand its outreach efforts, said Ms Angela Ng, director of aviation industry at CAAS.

“The aviation sector currently employs more than 60,000 people, and as air travel demand continues to grow as we invest in our future with Terminal 5, there’ll be more and more good opportunities for Singaporeans,” she said.

East Side Best Careers will offer over 10,000 job opportunities to East Coast GRC residents, said Mr Edwin Tong, MP of East Coast GRC in charge of Joo Chiat ward, at the launch at Heartbeat@Bedok.

He said that he has received feedback from residents, including fresh graduates and those in mid-career, about their stress and anxiety over jobs.

“Singapore’s employment rates have generally been good over the years. We’ve had a stable job market with good opportunities emerging and we have kept our unemployment numbers relatively low, and that’s happening even in the context of a geopolitically challenged economic environment,” he said.

“But looking for a job even in such a market can be challenging.”

Mr Tong, who is also Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, said he is looking to grow the initiative beyond one year, depending on the job situation and the needs on the ground.

Also present at the event were other East Coast GRC MPs Tan Kiat How, Dinesh Vasu Dash and Jessica Tan, and about 100 guests including employers and residents.

Under the initiative, a series of career fairs and engagements held throughout the year will allow residents to meet employers, understand career pathways and explore job opportunities.

Seventeen companies will offer a total of 50 internship opportunities across different industries. These include placements with ERA Singapore in real estate services, Azbil Corporation in building and industrial automation and The Ascott Limited in hospitality and serviced residences.

The East Coast initiative complements the national

Jobs Nearby @ CDC

initiative, launched by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong across five districts in October 2025, to better connect job seekers with opportunities in their neighbourhoods.

It is supported by Jobs Nearby @ South East, which provides personalised one-on-one guidance through job ambassadors, helping residents connect with employment opportunities in their neighbourhoods that best fit their needs and lifestyles.

East Side Best Careers will begin on Jan 26 with the South East CDC Youth Career Fair, which focuses on youth and first-time job seekers as they prepare to enter the workforce.

Mr Dinesh, Mayor of South East District, said that as the job landscape evolves, residents will need practical support to navigate today’s job market with confidence.

The Community Development Council (CDC) will continue to support residents’ employment needs and nurture youth potential, added the Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower.

For example, the upcoming Career Launch @ South East on Jan 26 to 27 will connect youth with job opportunities while providing career and skills advice to build their readiness.

East Side Best Careers also includes direct hiring opportunities through The Bosses Network, an advocacy group of over 3,000 local enterprises, including WTS Travel, myCK retail chain and Scanteak furniture store.

Mr Andy Hoon, who is chairman of both The Bosses Network and Kim San Leng coffee-shop chain, said that the proximity of the workplace to home for workers can support stronger retention rates and deeper connections with the community.

e2i will support residents through job matching, career coaching and skills upgrading advice. This will be complemented by digital tools such as the AI Career Coach, which offers career support including resume writing and interview preparation.

Ms Sivakami Gopalakrishnan, deputy chief executive officer of e2i’s Career Services & Partnership Group, said that by embedding career opportunities and employer engagement within the community, e2i is better able to facilitate timely and relevant job matching.

East Coast resident Hozehfa Mohamed Hussin Topiwala, 53, hopes to take his son, a first-year mechanical engineering undergraduate at NTU, to the job fairs.

“It’s never too early. The job market’s tough and engineers are many,” he said.

“It is good for him to get some direct exposure to real roles and employer expectations. With everything online now, such an opportunity to talk to real humans is valuable.”