LAST year's polytechnic graduates enjoyed good job prospects, with more finding jobs and getting higher salaries than in 2006, as expected in the booming economy.

Average salaries went up by 5.5 per cent from $1,711 in 2006 to $1,805 last year, according to the annual employment survey released yesterday.

Among the highest earners were students from one of the least popular courses - engineering.

Mechanical and manufacturing engineering graduates had an average gross monthly salary of $1,923 while electrical and electronic engineering graduates earned $1,895.

But topping the list of high earners were maritime graduates, who made an average of $1,981 a month.

Mr Tan Kim Pong, Ngee Ann Polytechnic's director of the Marine and Offshore Technology Centre of Innovation, said the massive manpower demand and lack of supply in the maritime industry pushed the pay packets up.

'There aren't enough workers at every level. The shipyards scramble for every batch of students that comes out,' he said.

To boost manpower supply to the industry, the polytechnic has increased its diploma intake since last year from 60 to 80 students.

It has also tied up with Singapore Polytechnic and Newcastle University to offer a degree in naval architecture come September.

Apart from higher salaries, more students also found jobs last year.

About 75.3 per cent of those who were working or looking for a job, found full-time jobs, up from 72.1 per cent in 2006. Of this group, 87.7 per cent were working in the private sector.

The annual employment survey was jointly conducted by the five polytechnics - Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek - between October and December last year.

There were 11,000 respondents. They were asked to respond based on their employment status on Oct 1.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Jan 22, 2008