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Latest MOM figures reveal trends in EP holders and new issuances, highlighting how experience levels have evolved from 2015 to 2024.
Singapore’s Employment Pass (EP) landscape has seen subtle changes in the past decade, according to a written parliamentary answer by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Chua Kheng Wee Louis, Member of Parliament had asked for a breakdown of EP holders and new EPs issued by declared years of working experience, categorised in five-year bands.
In response, MOM stated that the breakdown of EP holders, as well as newly issued EPs for individuals joining a new employer in Singapore, is categorised by years of work experience, both local and overseas, as declared by employers in their EP applications.
Between 2015 and 2019, EP holders in Singapore were fairly evenly distributed across different levels of declared working experience. Those with zero to five years of experience made up 24% of EP holders, followed by 26% with six to 10 years, and 20% with 11 to 15 years. Workers with 16 to 20 years of experience accounted for 13%, 21 to 25 years for 7%, and more than 25 years for 9%.
In the subsequent period from 2020 to 2024, there was a slight shift, with EP holders having zero to five years of experience dropping to 22% and those with more than 25 years increasing to 11%. Other categories remained relatively stable, with 21% for six to 10 years, 22% for 11 to 15 years, 15% for 16 to 20 years, and 9% for 21 to 25 years.
Looking specifically at new EP issuances for employees joining a new employer, the majority continued to have lower levels of declared working experience. From 2015 to 2019, 35% of new EPs went to individuals with zero to five years of experience, followed by 27% for those with six to 10 years, and 17% for 11 to 15 years. Fewer new EPs were issued to individuals with more experience, with 9% for 16 to 20 years, 5% for 21 to 25 years, and 6% for more than 25 years.
Between 2020 and 2024, the distribution remained largely similar, with 34% of new EPs going to those with zero to five years, 24% for six to 10 years, and 18% for 11 to 15 years. Those with 16 to 20 years accounted for 11%, while 21 to 25 and more than 25 years remained at 6% each.
As derived from the data, Singapore's EP talent pool is gradually ageing, with a growing share of highly experienced professionals. New EPs, however, remain largely issued to early-career workers, with around a third going to those with five years or below of work experience.
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