Singaporean Questions if Growing Employment Pass (EP) Roles Reflect “Jobs Singaporeans Don’t Want”

SINGAPORE: Recent Ministry of Manpower (MOM) data showing record-high Employment Pass (EP) numbers has sparked a public debate on whether these positions truly represent “jobs Singaporeans don’t want.” One Singaporean raised this question on social media, highlighting that the latest data shows EP holders reached 205,400 by December 2023, a 6% increase from pre-pandemic levels in December 2019, and 11% above December 2018 numbers.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng addressed Parliament in April, explaining that the bulk of non-resident employment growth in 2023 has been in areas Singaporeans typically avoid, such as construction, where the demand for work permits and other non-EP work passes is high. Of the 88,400 jobs added last year, 83,500 went to non-residents, with the majority in lower-skilled sectors. Higher-skilled EP and S Pass holders accounted for 18,700 new jobs.

The MOM data reveals that while EP numbers have grown, the combined total of EP and S Pass holders remains slightly below pre-COVID levels due to a decrease in S Pass holders. Nonetheless, the post-pandemic EP increase signals Singapore’s ongoing need for specialized talent in high-skilled positions. According to MOM’s criteria, EP candidates must earn a minimum of $5,000, increasing with age and sector, with higher starting salaries in fields like financial services.

This trend has left some Singaporeans wondering if these EP jobs are truly positions locals would avoid or if they highlight the need for foreign expertise in the nation’s economic landscape.