It’s a good time for job-hunting in Singapore. Total employment grew by almost 50,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2007, with services in the lead, followed by manufacturing and construction sectors.  Job vacancies rose to 32,200, a 30% increase from the same period last year. Wages have gone up by 5% and government believes a wage hike is needed to improve declining productivity. 

Jobs in Singapore

Of last year’s 176,000 new jobs, nearly half went to foreigners who make up almost a third of Singapore’s work force. Government is said to be taking steps to encourage its 670,000 migrant workers to stay at their jobs, including the “foreign talents” who are highly educated and skilled expats from the US, England, France, Japan and Korea.

The Singapore government has decided to accept more foreign workers where the locals do not want to go -- the marine and construction industries. It will also allow foreign workers (though in lesser numbers) to work in manufacturing and services but bar almost all from small retail shops and stalls. It is also actively encouraging skilled workers who are in short supply even on a global scale.

Moving to Singapore

A typical expat talent can expect to live in moderate luxury in Singapore.  A 2,500 sq/ft. four bedroom house with a garden and private pool, located in the center of the city, will cost from $10,000 to $25,000 a month. If you live about 30 minutes away from the center of the city, you can get a three bedroom condominium for $1,300 to $3,000 a month or a room for $400 to $750 a month in the same area.  Your children can have access to excellent education facilities at both local and international schools up to the university level. You will find that purchasing and maintaining your own car is quite expensive. The alternative is an efficient and cheap public transport system that covers the whole of Singapore, or to take taxis (quite cheap) and rent a car for special occasions. There are definite cultural differences between western countries and Singapore and you have to be prepared to do some adjustment.

Typical Jobs in Singapore

The number of foreign workers increased from almost 250,000 in 1990 to 670,000 in 2006. Of this number, about 90,000 are the so-called “foreign talents” whose number has boomed due to more intensive and less restrictive recruitment of ex-pat professional and managerial employees. The number of new jobs is expected to be biggest in the following sectors: business services (8,800), financial intermediation (5,900), computer related activities (4,700), transport and logistics (4,000), education (2,800), and health care (2,300).

Salaries and Benefits in Singapore

An accountant can earn an average of US$60,000 while a financial analyst can earn almost US$79,000 a year. Singapore has a five½ workday and 44-hour workweek. Employees receive a seven-day vacation leave for the first year of service and two-three weeks leave and paid sick leave. Salaries of expats are usually competitive especially with an additional package of transportation, housing, education, entertainment and child care allowances plus partial subsidies for dental and medical insurance.

Local Taxes in Singapore

Foreign workers who have a work visa or employment permit are usually taxed. Singapore taxes are rather low compared to taxes in Europe and the US.  Income tax is about 12-15% and value added tax is about 5%. In fact, personal income tax rates are among the lowest in the world. A foreigner is classified as a tax resident when he has lived in Singapore for 183 days in a year or for three years running.

Jobs in High Demand in Singapore

Singapore is building its knowledge base on the following industries: electronics, chemicals, engineering and biomedical sciences so ex-pats with related skills and experience should do well. Management consultants in these industry lines can receive as much as US$81,000+ a year. As a regional Asian center, it also needs people who are exceptional marketing professionals and know how to developing marketing strategies for its particular situation. The IT work force is expected to grow by 10% or 10,000 new IT workers per year. Computer programmers can expect an average of US$71,000+ a year;  systems analysts, US$76,000+; software engineers, US$87,000+; engineering managers, US$118,500+ a year.  Salaries can go as high as US$400,000 a year for a financial and business analyst for a multinational corporation.

Singapore has been criticized for failing to include domestic workers from the Employment Act, which ensures labor rights such as one-day rest per week, 48 hours work week, 14 days paid sick leave, etc. There are 160,000 domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Immigration and Visa Issues in Singapore

You need a Professional Visit Pass if you are going to take part in a conference or seminar or doing some kind of short term work or assignment whether as a journalist, entertainer, etc.  You need a Work Permit or Employment pass if you are going to stay longer and work in Singapore. You can get a pass for professionals and highly skilled workers; or a pass for middle level workers such as technicians; or a work permit for unskilled and semi-skilled workers including domestic help.

Singapore wants to ensure that unskilled and semi-skilled foreign workers can be sent back to their home countries during times of economic downturn. On the other hand, skilled professionals can obtain permanent residency status and even citizenship.

Online Job Sources in Singapore

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website gives valuable information on employment pass and work permits, workplace relations and standards, employment standards, accredited service providers, and employment agencies. You can tap the website of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for data on careers and scholarship in the accounting and finance industries.

Check out the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce if you want an overview of Singapore’s industries, markets and employment trends. You can also refer to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website. ICA is a government agency that issues immigration passes and permits to foreigners. For possible job openings, you can visit AsiaOne Careers, Contact Singapore, Monster, Jobstreet, and JobsDB.