New employment support office to offer greater job support for persons with disabilities

A new Employment Support Office (ESO) will be launched to better support employment for persons with disabilities, according to the Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities.It is part of the taskforce's recommended measures, after looking at how Singapore can better support persons with disabilities (PwDs) throughout different life stages, they said in a press conference on Friday (Oct 1).Throughout their engagements with over 200 individuals, including PwDs, caregivers, employers and community partners, the taskforce found that many families expressed concerns over the uncertainties in their future. In particular, families shared their worries about the "post-18 cliff" — when PwDs graduate from schools — and whether PwDs would be able to secure and retain employment as well as live independently.According to the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), only 34.7 per cent of PwDs aged 15 to 64 are employed. Of this group, only 24.4% of employed residents with disabilities worked for the same employer for at least one year, as of 2025.