The university graduate today is worse off than the ITE graduate of the past !

[dontwastetime]

*dear pap supporters, should anything be 95 times a graduates salary ? If no then stop justifying

*no matter how hard pap try to justify, 2025 degree holder should not lose to 1979 ITE!

PAP ibs accuse LMW of cherry picking. But they conveniently ignored LMW used the cheapest BTO prices yet it's 95 times the graduates income

If we compared using resale prices or THE RECORD BREAKING BTO AMK 877k (yes it exist) EVEN 200 times the income also I won't be surprised



Leong Mun Wai : "Based on housing affordability, the median university graduate today is worse off than the median ITE graduate in the late 1970s and early 1980s."

He added that despite an "education arms race", university graduates today can only afford "smaller and more expensive flats than what an ITE graduate could have bought 45 years ago".

He further stated, "The prospects are even dimmer" for those without a degree are even dimmer for those without a degree"

In 1979:

• Degree median starting salary was S$957 per month
• An NTC-3 graduate from VITB (now ITE) earned S$633 monthly
• BUT new four-room flat in new towns cost only $27k

HDB price was ONLY equivalent to:

• 28 times a university graduate's median starting salary
• 43 times a VITB graduate's median starting salary

BUT By 2024:

• Degree median starting salary increased to S$4,500 monthly
• The cheapest four-room BTO flat cost S$290,000 (excluding grants)
• The cheapest five-room BTO flat was priced at S$427,000

HDB price was equivalent to:

• 64 times Degree holder median starting salary for a four-room flat
• 95 times Degree holder median starting salary for a five-room flat

 

[Optrex]

in the end I just want to ask. "你投票给谁？政府是自己选的。 靠北什么‘’


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[Shion]

to make matters worse, a lot of price setters in the market today

where does all the money come from ?

 

[parchiao]

@Eliwood

This is interesting, assuming the numbers are correct.

In 1979, median starting salary of a graduate was $957 and ITE was $633, but the median gross income then was much lower at $347!

In 2025, median starting salary of a graduate is $4500 and median gross income is higher at $5500.

See the explanation for 1979.

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19790707-1.2.56.6

And how the distribution looked like in 1975 and 1976.

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19770906-1.2.77

 

[Whispers]

want to see how the young vote this time round...will be an interesting societal lesson

 

[Eliwood]

@Eliwood

This is interesting, assuming the numbers are correct.

In 1979, median starting salary of a graduate was $957 and ITE was $633, but the median gross income then was much lower at $347!

In 2025, median starting salary of a graduate is $4500 and median gross income is higher at $5500.

See the explanation for 1979.

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19790707-1.2.56.6

And how the distribution looked like in 1975 and 1976.

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19770906-1.2.77

Im not surprised by this. My dad only had O level, he was born in 1940s.

Back then even ITE cert was a big deal. Most ppl stopped at O level or PSLE. Uni and ITE grads were maybe top 10% or even fewer.

Now graduates are a dime a dozen. But the common pitfall is that ppl think the 40% graduate population now shd enjoy the same lifestyle as graduates back then, who were more likely the top 10% or 5%. This is not a like for like comparison.

In reality, probably only the top 25% graduates now (or 10% of total graduate population) will be able to earn income equivalent to the graduates in 1979.

 

[ribena.bing]

should not even use the entire salary

in the past, savings were more. can use to pay housing

these days, a bigger portion is used for insurance because medical bills cannot play play. especially if starting family. there are higher utility bills and other living expenses such as food and transport.

i believe it is not simply just 28 vs 64

the disparity might be larger

 

[jq1986]

should not even use the entire salary

in the past, savings were more. can use to pay housing

these days, a bigger portion is used for insurance because medical bills cannot play play. especially if starting family. there are higher utility bills and other living expenses such as food and transport.

i believe it is not simply just 28 vs 64

the disparity might be larger

In the past, life expectancy was 10-20 years shorter. So they afford to spend more and save less.

 

[standarture]

should not even use the entire salary

in the past, savings were more. can use to pay housing

these days, a bigger portion is used for insurance because medical bills cannot play play. especially if starting family. there are higher utility bills and other living expenses such as food and transport.

i believe it is not simply just 28 vs 64

the disparity might be larger

Now people spend like free. Travel like an entitlement too. Eat casual F&B like free also. SG makes spending very easy. Companies dont increase salary for lifestyle changes.

 

[zzangiefzz]

Leong Mun Wai : "Based on housing affordability, the median university graduate today is worse off than the median ITE graduate in the late 1970s and early 1980s."

He added that despite an "education arms race", university graduates today can only afford "smaller and more expensive flats than what an ITE graduate could have bought 45 years ago".

He further stated, "The prospects are even dimmer" for those without a degree are even dimmer for those without a degree"

In 1979:

• A university graduate's median starting salary was S$957 per month
• An NTC-3 graduate from VITB (ITE's predecessor) earned S$633 monthly
• BUT new four-room flat in new towns cost only $27k

HDB price was equivalent to:

• 28 times a university graduate's median starting salary
• 43 times a VITB graduate's median starting salary

BUT By 2024:

• A university graduate's median starting salary increased to S$4,500 monthly
• The cheapest four-room BTO flat cost S$290,000 (excluding grants)
• The cheapest five-room BTO flat was priced at S$427,000

HDB price was equivalent to:

• 64 times a university graduate's median starting salary for a four-room flat
• 95 times a graduate's median starting salary for a five-room flat

where to find 290k 4room bto in 2024? even in johor price more than that

 

[ribena.bing]

Now people spend like free. Travel like an entitlement too. Eat casual F&B like free also. SG makes spending very easy. Companies dont increase salary for lifestyle changes.

true. in the past, retail spending not as accessible. dont have ding tia fung and haidilao everywhere. premium stores only at orchard road. now also all everywhere

 

[helloicanseeu]

so ... there's nothing to be done

 

[diequick]

Difficult. You see, then they try to raise ITE salaries lor.

First, the "definition" of housing affordability is defined as Price/Annual income. And the "worldwide perception" is < 5 ==> affordable. Public housing remains affordable and attainable, says HDB, citing international studies and DEMOGRAPHIA INTERNATIONAL HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

If we go by the standards, then of cos, do v well already. WWhat's wrong with the comparison? We are mainly owners and small city, whereas the rest are big cities/country where there is always option to move. Secondly, renters already excluded themselves from the stats. If they can afford it, they would buy. We are also unique, public/private housing. Another factor most of the studies ignore, the car purchase. The rest of the world, a car is relatively cheap compared to their accommodation. Ours is nearly as expensive or more (10 years COE, try expolating it price to 99 years and bring it to PV). Since pty and car are the most expensive one-time purchases in your life (other than wife/kids), then our affordability index needs abit of tweaking.
( 1 / 3 x COE x 3) + median housing price , this total is then divided by median annual income.

Why 1/3? 1 in 3 household, assume 30s to 60s, own a car for 3 decades.
Why we cannot define like this? After all, we can set standard for ministerial pay, we should define our own affordability index on this little red dot.

 

[Kunkka]

Then ite grad now leh? Not considered human Liao?

 

[Godeau]

Vocational Institute was a big deal back then, and university graduates were few and far between, often associated with only the rich

 

[popdod]

Siao boh
new grads starting pay $5-$6k Liao

where god worse

 

[weng0202]

where to find 290k 4room bto in 2024? even in johor price more than that

Don't have meh? I'm sure still have something close to the price even now.

 

[Dudick]

Comparing now against 1980s... I wonder would you not know 1980s had less graduates per 100k population than today ?

Furthermore, Sinkies of 1980s are not of the same definition of "Sinkies" 2025
(Although can't fault chiu, as probably is still Iiving in cave)

 

[buttbERry]

i dont think so ba

 

[RinoaX]

Gen Z and newer...good luck.

We millennials will screw you over just like how these selfish boomers did.