Singapore's Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) began operations on 1 July 2026, bringing SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) together under one statutory board. For students and young adults entering the workforce, the aim is a more connected route from career guidance and skills training to job matching and first jobs. Existing programmes continue during the transition, with no service disruption stated by SWDA.
Source: SWDA Newsroom
Sources: SWDA Newsroom ; MOM — Appointment of Inaugural Board for SWDA
What Is SWDA?
SWDA is Singapore's new statutory board for skills development, workforce development and employment support, formed by merging SSG and WSG. It sits under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and is jointly overseen by MOM and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Its purpose is to integrate the jobs-and-skills ecosystem so people get more connected support across training, career planning, job matching and employment — combining SSG and WSG's strengths and improving coordination between skills and job information.
Sources: MOM — Factsheet on SWDA ; SWDA FAQ
What Changed on 1 July 2026
SSG and WSG's functions did not disappear — they were brought under one roof:
| Before 1 Jul 2026 | What it did | After 1 Jul 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) | Skills development, lifelong learning, SkillsFuture support | SWDA (skills development & training functions) |
| Workforce Singapore (WSG) | Career support, employment services, job matching, workforce development | SWDA (career, employment & workforce functions) |
| SSG + WSG (separate boards) | Separate support for skills and employment | SWDA — one agency connecting career guidance, skills training and job matching |
Sources: MOM — Factsheet on SWDA ; SWDA — Portals and Sites
SWDA says it will be a single touchpoint for career guidance, skills training and job matching, using combined skills and jobs information for more timely, personalised support.
Portals aren't confirmed merged
The official information reviewed does not confirm every website or portal has been technically merged. MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFutureand others are still listed separately on SWDA's own site — keep using them as before.
Source: SWDA — Portals and Sites
Why Merge SSG and WSG?
SSG focused on skills development and lifelong learning; WSG focused on employment support, career services and workforce development. The rationale for merging them is more integrated supportinstead of navigating two separate organisations. SWDA aims to connect training decisions with job and skills demand, improve access to career guidance, training and job matching, provide personalised support across working life, help employers identify in-demand skills, and strengthen coordination between institutes of higher learning, employers, training providers and career-service partners. For a poly, ITE or university leaver, SWDA is designed to connect “What should I learn?” with “What jobs could this lead to?”
Source: SWDA Newsroom
What SWDA Means for First Jobs
- Career guidance:SWDA's factsheet says it offers career guidance to help fresh graduates identify career pathways aligned with their skills and aspirations. MyCareersFuture connects users to jobs and career insights; MySkillsFuture is for lifelong learning and skills in demand.
- Job matching: SWDA brings job matching together with skills and career services; the factsheet mentions attachment and traineeship programmes for work experience. It does not guarantee a job — it improves access, matching and information. Check MyCareersFuture for roles.
- SkillsFuture Credit & training: SWDA continues SkillsFuture-related support; existing initiatives and programmes remain in effect during the transition, with no service disruption per MOM's 12 February 2026 statement. Existing SkillsFuture Credit balances and eligible courses continue — the merger did not announce a withdrawal or replacement of the scheme, nor a universal new subsidy structure. Check the specific course or programme page for current funding and eligibility.
Sources: MOM — Factsheet on SWDA ; SWDA — Portals and Sites ; SWDA FAQ
What Stays the Same?
SWDA states: existing contracts continue; existing initiatives continue; existing programmes continue; no service disruption during the transition. There is no requirement to reapplyfor every existing programme. Services may now carry the SWDA name, but MySkillsFuture and MyCareersFuture remain separately identified online — a full technical portal merger is not verified in official sources.
Sources: SWDA FAQ ; SWDA — Portals and Sites
Who Is Leading SWDA?
The inaugural chairman is Mr Lim Sim Seng, appointed chairman of the SWDA Board. MOM announced the inaugural board serves a two-year term, 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2028. Mr Lim is Deputy Chairman of SIA Engineering, with prior leadership in banking and public-sector organisations.
Chairman and CE are two different people
Mr Lim Sim Seng is SWDA's inaugural Chairman (board leadership, 1 Jul 2026–30 Jun 2028). Ms Dilys Boey, previously Workforce Singapore's Chief Executive, is SWDA's Chief Executive — the role that runs the organisation day to day. The two roles are distinct and should not be conflated.
Sources: MOM — Appointment of Inaugural Board for SWDA ; SWDA — Board Members
Key Dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 12 Feb 2026 | Merger announced by PM & Finance Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2026 |
| 8 Apr 2026 | SWDA Bill First Reading in Parliament |
| 5 May 2026 | SWDA Bill's Second Reading / passage in Parliament (per press coverage) |
| 24 Jun 2026 | MOM announced the inaugural SWDA Board & chairman Lim Sim Seng |
| 1 Jul 2026 | SWDA began operations (SSG + WSG merged) |
| 30 Jun 2028 | End of the inaugural board's two-year term |
Sources: SWDA FAQ ; MOM — Factsheet on SWDA ; MOM — Appointment of Inaugural Board for SWDA
Where Should Young People Go for Help?
- Skills training:MySkillsFuture Portal — learning opportunities, skills in demand, SkillsFuture information.
- Jobs / first-job opportunities: MyCareersFuture — jobs and career insights.
- Broader career planning:SWDA's career-planning and skills-and-career advisory services, and tools such as CareersFinder, MySkillsFuture and the Careers and Skills Passport.
Sources: SWDA — Portals and Sites ; MOM — Factsheet on SWDA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SWDA?
Singapore’s new statutory board, which began operations on 1 July 2026, merging SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG). It sits under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and is jointly overseen by MOM and the Ministry of Education (MOE), to connect skills training, career guidance and job matching.
Does the SkillsFuture Credit still work?
Yes. SWDA continues SkillsFuture-related support, and existing initiatives and programmes continue with no service disruption stated during the transition. Always check the specific course or programme page for current funding and eligibility.
Do I need to reapply for existing programmes?
No. SWDA states that existing contracts, initiatives and programmes continue. Use the official SWDA, MySkillsFuture or MyCareersFuture sites for current instructions.
Who leads SWDA?
The inaugural chairman is Mr Lim Sim Seng, whose board serves a two-year term from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028. Ms Dilys Boey, previously Workforce Singapore’s Chief Executive, is SWDA’s Chief Executive — a distinct role from the Chairman.
Where do I go for a first job or training?
MyCareersFuture for jobs and career insights; MySkillsFuture for training, courses and skills in demand. Both portals continue to operate; a full technical merger of the two is not confirmed in official sources.
Related Resources
SkillsFuture AI Courses 2026
What's actually being taught under SkillsFuture's AI training push — separate from SWDA's governance merger.
Graduate Employment Survey 2025 Salary Guide
See what recent graduates actually earned — useful context for the “first jobs” outcomes SWDA is meant to support.
The bottom line
For a Singapore poly, ITE or university leaver, SWDA is meant to make the path from learning to a first job feel like one connected journey rather than two separate systems. Practically, keep using MySkillsFuture for training and MyCareersFuture for jobs — and check each programme's current terms, since the merger did not withdraw existing SkillsFuture support.
Note on completeness:Facts are from SWDA (swda.gov.sg) and MOM primary sources. A full technical merger of the MySkillsFuture/MyCareersFuture portals is not confirmed — they remain separately listed. No universal new subsidy structure is claimed; check individual course or programme funding before enrolling.
Sources
- 1.SWDA — SWDA Launches with Refreshed Work Priorities. swda.gov.sg
- 2.SWDA — FAQ. swda.gov.sg
- 3.SWDA — Portals and Sites. swda.gov.sg
- 4.SWDA — Board Members. swda.gov.sg
- 5.MOM — Factsheet on SWDA. mom.gov.sg
- 6.MOM — Appointment of Inaugural Board for SWDA. mom.gov.sg
Cite this page:SGSchoolKaki Education Team, “SWDA Singapore: What the SSG-WSG Merger Means,” SGSchoolKaki, 3 Oct 2026, https://sgschoolkaki.com/blog/swda-skillsfuture-workforce-merger-2026.