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More Companies Willing to Hire Persons with Special Needs; Related Inquiries Increasing Year by Year.

Trampolene guides students with special needs — including Wang Jinhao (second from right), who has autism and ADHD — in outdoor activities to help correct their posture and increase physical activity. The organization now provides employment support to up to 300 job seekers with special needs each year, with an average job placement rate of around 60 to 70 percent. (Photo by Lin Ming Shun)

According to organizations that support jobseekers with special needs, there has been a steady rise in the number of companies willing to hire persons with disabilities or special needs in recent years. However, jobseekers from this group still face various challenges such as negative stereotypes.

Francis Tan (54), founder of non-profit organization Trampolene, told Lianhe Zaobao that more companies have shown interest in hiring special needs employees in recent years, with inquiries from businesses increasing by 5% to 10% annually.

Founded in 2016, Trampolene mainly supports highly educated adults with special needs—such as those with autism or sensory issues – by providing job matching services, employment training, and guidance for companies on hiring persons with special needs.

Social service agency SPD also launched its “Employment Support Programme” over a decade ago to offer job assistance and training for persons with disabilities.

Four years ago, Tower Transit hired its first employee with a disability through SPD to serve as a Customer Experience and Inclusion Officer. Within two years, the company hired a second person with a disability for the same role.

Lim Qing Hao (43), Director of Communications and Customer Experience at Tower Transit, shared that the initial goal was to gain firsthand feedback from employees with disabilities in order to improve the commuting experience for disabled passengers. The position was specially created to foster inclusion and shift the company culture to be more inclusive. “Over the past four years, the team has gained a much deeper understanding of persons with disabilities and has become more empathetic,” he said.

Lim added that the company may expand hiring persons with disabilities for other roles:

“For positions that don’t require mobility, I don’t believe persons with disabilities are any less capable than others.”

More Companies Discover the Benefits of Hiring Persons with Disabilities

SPD Assistant Director of Employment and Training, Lee Hui Ling, noted that as society becomes more inclusive – and with various government programs and subsidies promoting disability employment – more businesses are recognizing the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities. These include accessing diverse talent, attracting younger employees who value inclusivity, and improving corporate image.

She noted that under the Employment Support Programme, the number of persons with disabilities successfully placed in jobs steadily rose to around 200 annually over the past decade, until the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp 40% drop in 2020 (128 placements). Numbers have since gradually recovered, with 180 successful placements in FY2023/2024.

Official surveys also show a rising employment rate among persons with disabilities. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, the employment rate increased from 28.2% in 2018/2019 to 32.7% in 2022/2023. The government’s Enabling Masterplan 2030 targets an increase to 40%.

Job Hunting Still Challenging for Persons with Special Needs

However, the job search journey is not always smooth. Wang Jin Hao (22), who has autism and ADHD, has been unemployed since May after his warehouse job ended due to reduced staffing needs. During this time, he has continued receiving employment training to improve his communication and focus, while actively seeking new job opportunities.

“I hope to find a job in the food and beverage industry, save up, and go on a trip abroad with my family,”

After obtaining a Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) certificate in information and communications technology in 2022, Wang Jinhao (foreground) worked at a gift shop and a warehouse. He is currently unemployed. (Photo by Lin Ming Shun)

Lee Hui Ling also shared that some SPD clients find employment within a month, while others remain unemployed for over a year.

“This could be because some individuals wish to return to their previous jobs or maintain the same salary level. Others may lack the skills currently in demand, or due to age or health conditions, may be unwilling or unable to undergo retraining,” she explained.

Trampolene’s Chief Operating Officer, Cheok Xueting (38), acknowledged that while public understanding and acceptance of persons with special needs have increased, negative stereotypes still persist.

Francis Tan and Cheok Xueting also noted that providing employment assistance to persons with special needs is highly labor-intensive, in addition to facing funding challenges. They hope to leverage technology to scale up operations and serve more individuals.

Trampolene founder Francis Tan (right) and operations director Cheok Xueting said that in addition to the ongoing challenge of limited funding, providing employment support for persons with special needs is highly labor-intensive. They hope to leverage technology to scale up their operations and offer job training to more individuals in need. (Photo by Lin Ming Shun)

Tan added that it can take up to a year for companies with no prior experience hiring persons with special needs to go from initial interest to being fully ready to hire. 

“Some businesses or individuals may have had unpleasant past experiences that make them hesitant. What we can do is help prepare the candidates well, provide career planning, and give them opportunities to realize their potential.”