SIM’s Graduate Outcomes: Key Insights on Salaries and Employability for Singapore Students
SINGAPORE – As families in Singapore assess higher education options, critical factors such as employability, starting salaries, and return on investment have gained prominence. A degree’s value is increasingly measured not just by academic interest but also by its effectiveness in facilitating entry into the job market and supporting long-term career growth.
The Importance of Graduate Salary Data
While graduate salary data serves as a valuable tool for decision-making, it should not be viewed in isolation. Starting salaries are merely one aspect of return on investment. Other essential considerations include employment rates, full-time permanent positions, industry pathways, career support, program alignment, and the relevance of skills over time.
For prospective students of the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), the institution’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page offers insights into graduate performance. This resource outlines how SIM graduates have fared in the Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey (PEI GES), detailing their employment locations and the support provided by SIM in fostering career readiness.
Significance of the PEI Graduate Employment Survey
The PEI Graduate Employment Survey (GES) serves as a vital reference for students exploring private education pathways. It provides comprehensive data on employment and salary outcomes for graduates from registered private education institutions.
The 2024/2025 PEI GES focused on fresh graduates who completed full-time Bachelor’s level External Degree Programmes between May 2024 and April 2025. The survey encompassed approximately 6,150 full-time graduates from 26 private education institutions, achieving a response rate of 61.6%. Conducted from October 2025 to January 2026, the survey revealed that 78.9% of the 2,600 economically active PEI fresh graduate respondents secured employment within six months of graduation. The median gross monthly salary for these graduates in full-time permanent roles remained stable at S$3,500.
This data is invaluable for students and parents seeking to compare graduate outcomes across the private education sector, allowing SIM’s results to be evaluated against broader sector benchmarks.
Insights from SIM Graduate Outcome Data
According to SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page, 81.0% of fresh graduate respondents secured employment, with 77.9% currently employed and 47.0% in full-time permanent positions. The median gross monthly salary for these graduates was reported at S$3,565, as per the Skills & Workforce Development Agency’s 2024/2025 PEI GES.
| Indicator | SIM | Avg of All PEI (including SIM) |
|---|---|---|
| Secured employment | 81.0% | 78.9% |
| Full-time permanent employment | 47.0% | 46.9% |
| Median gross monthly salary | S$3,565 | S$3,500 |
This comparison positions SIM’s graduate outcomes favorably within the private education sector. It highlights the necessity of evaluating employability through multiple indicators. Secured employment reflects whether graduates have entered the workforce, accepted job offers, or initiated entrepreneurial ventures. Full-time permanent employment indicates job stability, while median gross monthly salary provides insight into the average earnings of graduates in stable roles.
Employment Sectors for SIM Graduates
Graduates from SIM have successfully entered diverse sectors, including aviation, aerospace, engineering, airline and tourism, banking and financial services, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, insurance, consumer services, public sector, consulting, healthcare, logistics, transportation, retail, and manufacturing.
These employment destinations are significant as students are not merely choosing a degree; they are also contemplating potential pathways into various industries, job functions, and career trajectories. For instance, a business-related degree may facilitate roles in banking, consulting, retail, logistics, or entrepreneurship, while a technology-focused pathway could lead to opportunities in ICT, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital services, or business technology.
Evaluating Salary, Employability, and ROI
A practical approach for students comparing degree options involves considering four key areas: relevance, return, readiness, and resilience.
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Does the degree connect to industries that are hiring? |
| Return | What do employment and salary outcomes indicate? |
| Readiness | What career support, internship guidance, and employer exposure are available? |
| Resilience | Can the skills acquired support future career changes? |
This framework assists students in avoiding the pitfall of selecting a degree solely based on the highest salary. While starting salary is a crucial factor, long-term value also hinges on the ability to acquire relevant skills, gain experience, and adapt to evolving labor market demands.
SIM’s Commitment to Employability
SIM actively supports students through various career preparation initiatives and employer engagement activities. These include résumé writing assistance, interview preparation, job search guidance, career fairs, employer talks, recruitment events, and workshops aimed at enhancing communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professional confidence.
Such support is integral to return on investment, as employability is influenced not only by the qualifications obtained but also by the preparedness of students to transition into the workforce. Career readiness, employer exposure, and workplace skills are essential for facilitating this transition.
Graduate starting salary is a significant factor for students and parents evaluating higher education options in Singapore. However, it should not be the sole criterion for assessing a degree pathway. A comprehensive evaluation should encompass employment rates, full-time permanent employment, median gross monthly salary, industry pathways, career support, and the long-term relevance of skills.
When considered alongside the PEI Graduate Employment Survey, national salary benchmarks, and SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page, this data equips students and parents with the necessary insights to make informed decisions regarding salary expectations, employability, and return on investment.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-07-15 05:37:00 • By the Editorial Desk
