Foreign Workforce in Singapore
Ever wondered how many Employment Passes (EP) and S Passes are there in Singapore?
| Pass Type |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
| Employment Pass
(EP) |
178,900 |
187,900 |
192,300 |
187,700 |
185,800 |
193,700 |
| S Pass |
170,100 |
178,600 |
179,700 |
184,400 |
195,500 |
200,000 |
| Total Foreign Workforce
(excluding FDWs and construction) |
764,200 |
780,000 |
787,500 |
788,300 |
804,600 |
824,200 |
| Change |
- |
2.07% |
0.96% |
0.1% |
2.07% |
2.44% |
To visualise it,
Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass Changes
In an attempt to encourage employment opportunities for Singaporeans, the minimum monthly salary of Employment Passes (EPs) for foreign professionals will be increased.
This will lead to an increment in the cost required for companies to hire foreign professionals, increasing the incentive of hiring a local.
| Type of Pass |
Minimum Qualifying Salary |
| |
From 1 May 2020 |
From 1 September 2020 |
| Employment Pass |
$3,900 |
$4,500 |
| Employment Pass
(Financial Services) |
$5,000 |
| Employment Pass
(Candidates in their 40s) |
About double the minimum qualifying salary for the youngest applicants |
| S Pass |
$2,400 |
$2,500 |
...
