Is Singapore's Population Strategy Creating Its Own Problems?

[True Believer]

Singapore's opening of its doors to foreigners to take up white collar jobs is resulting in many local university graduates becoming jobless or underemployed. During my travels to the major cities of the world, my Uber driver is usually a Third World foreigner doing a job that locals shun. Unfortunately, the roles are reversed in my own country where foreigners are working as PMEs while the citizens whom they displaced are taxi and PHV drivers.

 

[CoffeeAhSoh]

Singapore is tackling its aging population with two seemingly contradictory approaches: importing workers to fill immediate labor shortages and encouraging citizens to have more children to sustain long-term growth.

While each policy addresses specific challenges, the combination raises critical questions about whether these strategies are creating unintended competition and stress for the local population.

On one hand, importing workers is a quick fix. The influx of ready-to-work individuals keeps the economy running and supports sectors that are hard to fill locally. However, the quality of these workers varies, and the sheer volume of newcomers strains public resources, such as housing and transport. While some immigrants integrate and contribute positively, others may bring cultural and economic tensions that challenge social cohesion.

On the other hand, encouraging Singaporeans to have more children sounds ideal in theory, but it creates pressure in practice. Raising a child in Singapore is expensive, with high costs for education, healthcare, and housing. The situation becomes more challenging when the influx of foreigners and new citizens raises competition for school placements, jobs, and even physical space. In this scenario, parents will feel much less inclined to have children, knowing their offspring will face tougher competition in an already overcrowded society.

This raises the question: are these two policies working at cross purposes? By making the local environment more competitive, are we inadvertently discouraging the very families we are trying to grow? Can these policies coexist without creating resentment or eroding the quality of life for both existing citizens and new arrivals?

Singapore’s long-term survival may depend on the delicate balance of these strategies. But at what cost? Are we solving one problem only to create another?

Its called SG Inner Engineering.

 

[CoffeeAhSoh]

What do you think of a regime which culls the Turf Club in order to build more residential crap that advances the absurd 10 million population target?

Frankly , me think there is no other ways to
continue to pop up those sky high property prices.

the bottom of the barrel has dropped out .

 

[Willamshakespear]

During my travels to the major cities of the world, my Uber driver is usually a Third World foreigner doing a job that locals shun. Unfortunately, the roles are reversed in my own country where foreigners are working as PMEs while the citizens whom they displaced are taxi and PHV drivers.

The insignificant nobody me at first glance of your post, agrees with what you wrote. But as Critical Analysis is my 2nd nature, there are many other realities to what you described.

a) In major cities around the world, they are filled with legal & ILLEGAL migrants whom will take up such jobs. In Singapore, due to our successful & restrictive migrant policies, there are little or no illegal migrants on our shores & only those companies that hire them MUST show the need for such.

Just walk around the estates & you will find cleaning staff are mostly made up legal migrants under E-passes as most Singaporeans shunned such jobs. Walk abit further & you will find construction & port sites equally filled with the same.


b) Singaporeans live sheltered lives, protected by our democracy & Rule of Law. Meritocracy rules & as such, those E pass holders whom had worked hard here after 3 to 5 years will see their careers elevated, with salary increased & promotion even to mgmt levels, which encourages them to apply for PR or even citizenship, supported by their employers.

They seldom take sick leaves or even paid leaves, willing to work overtime & do not pray the voluntary 5 times a day during office or working hours, unlike Singaporeans.

Furthermore, it is in our Urban Culture - to be smart BUT not too smart, as promotion may mean higher salaries, but far more drastic would be the RESPONSIBLITIES & company's often high expectations.

Make one mistake & it is often the door to the outside highway. Thus Singaporeans are more cautious - why for that $500 or $1k salary more each month, only to lose it all when a mistake is made? Migrants are different. They are more hungry & willing to take such risks, as their home is in another land & job opportunities worldwide. When a Singaporean makes a mistake - one may not be able to find another job here may even lose his home & food on the table for his family....


c)Taxi, PHV, food delivery jobs, etc, are HONEST jobs. Most parents whom send their kids to school would hope that their kids would become doctors, lawyers, etc - blue collar jobs. But ULTIMATELY, it is about the salary one brings home.

It is well known that taxi drivers can bring home $6000/mth if they are hardworking enough. Similar with PHV drivers making the same pay, with tips from our well heeled biz leaders here. A food delivery person brings home $4000/mth. When combined with his wife who is also a food delivery person in this flexi hrs job, it is $8000/mth. Such are on par & even more than a degree holder at mid mgmt level. So what's there to look down upon?


Population strategy is complex & multi-tiered. It just needs to be fine tuned. We are a democracy & each has free will. A horse can be brought to the river, but no mortal can make the horse drink if it doesnt want to....

 

[MyMother]

Singapore's opening of its doors to foreigners to take up white collar jobs is resulting in many local university graduates becoming jobless or underemployed. During my travels to the major cities of the world, my Uber driver is usually a Third World foreigner doing a job that locals shun. Unfortunately, the roles are reversed in my own country where foreigners are working as PMEs while the citizens whom they displaced are taxi and PHV drivers.

The influx of foreign workers into white-collar positions in Singapore has indeed led to a situation where many local university graduates find themselves struggling to secure the jobs they are qualified for.

While foreign workers are essential for filling certain gaps in the labor market, their increasing presence in professional, managerial, and executive roles creates fierce competition for locals, leading to underemployment or even unemployment for many Singaporeans.

This shifts the balance, where locals who have invested time and money in their education are finding fewer opportunities available to them in their own country.

Your comparison with other major cities is very apt. In cities like New York, London, and even Tokyo, it's common to see foreigners taking on lower-wage, manual jobs, like driving or service work, which locals are less inclined to take.

However, in Singapore, the roles are reversed.

Foreigners are filling the very jobs that local graduates are trained for, while many Singaporeans are now turning to jobs like taxi and PHV driving for survival, tasks that aren't necessarily aligned with their skills or educational backgrounds. This reversal is disheartening for many Singaporeans, as it feels like their aspirations for professional growth are being sidelined by policies that prioritize foreign talent for white-collar roles.

While taxi and food delivery jobs are legitimate and respectable, they don’t reflect the potential of many local graduates. The reality is that many locals, who have worked hard for their degrees, are now forced into roles that don’t match their qualifications. The result is a workforce where too many educated people are underemployed, while foreigners with different wage expectations fill the jobs that locals once aspired to. This situation calls for a reassessment of Singapore’s approach to immigration and labor policies, to ensure that the system truly works for locals and creates an environment where they have the opportunities they deserve.

 

[MyMother]

The insignificant nobody me at first glance of your post, agrees with what you wrote. But as Critical Analysis is my 2nd nature, there are many other realities to what you described.

a) In major cities around the world, they are filled with legal & ILLEGAL migrants whom will take up such jobs. In Singapore, due to our successful & restrictive migrant policies, there are little or no illegal migrants on our shores & only those companies that hire them MUST show the need for such.

Just walk around the estates & you will find cleaning staff are mostly made up legal migrants under E-passes as most Singaporeans shunned such jobs. Walk abit further & you will find construction & port sites equally filled with the same.


b) Singaporeans live sheltered lives, protected by our democracy & Rule of Law. Meritocracy rules & as such, those E pass holders whom had worked hard here after 3 to 5 years will see their careers elevated, with salary increased & promotion even to mgmt levels, which encourages them to apply for PR or even citizenship, supported by their employers.

They seldom take sick leaves or even paid leaves, willing to work overtime & do not pray the voluntary 5 times a day during office or working hours, unlike Singaporeans.

Furthermore, it is in our Urban Culture - to be smart BUT not too smart, as promotion may mean higher salaries, but far more drastic would be the RESPONSIBLITIES & company's often high expectations.

Make one mistake & it is often the door to the outside highway. Thus Singaporeans are more cautious - why for that $500 or $1k salary more each month, only to lose it all when a mistake is made? Migrants are different. They are more hungry & willing to take such risks, as their home is in another land & job opportunities worldwide. When a Singaporean makes a mistake - one may not be able to find another job here may even lose his home & food on the table for his family....


c)Taxi, PHV, food delivery jobs, etc, are HONEST jobs. Most parents whom send their kids to school would hope that their kids would become doctors, lawyers, etc - blue collar jobs. But ULTIMATELY, it is about the salary one brings home.

It is well known that taxi drivers can bring home $6000/mth if they are hardworking enough. Similar with PHV drivers making the same pay, with tips from our well heeled biz leaders here. A food delivery person brings home $4000/mth. When combined with his wife who is also a food delivery person in this flexi hrs job, it is $8000/mth. Such are on par & even more than a degree holder at mid mgmt level. So what's there to look down upon?


Population strategy is complex & multi-tiered. It just needs to be fine tuned. We are a democracy & each has free will. A horse can be brought to the river, but no mortal can make the horse drink if it doesnt want to....

While you raised some valid points, there are a few critical aspects that need to be addressed to form a more balanced view.

Firstly, the claim that Singapore’s restrictive migrant policies ensure a lack of illegal migrants is valid, but it does not address the crux of the issue: the influx of foreign workers filling white-collar roles at the expense of locals.

While blue-collar jobs like cleaning or construction are often filled by migrants, many locals still feel that white-collar job opportunities, especially in competitive industries, are being increasingly occupied by foreign talent.

This shift exacerbates the perception that opportunities for career advancement are narrowing for locals, particularly in fields where they do have the qualifications and experience.

Secondly, the idea that foreign workers are more willing to take risks and work long hours may be true in some cases, but it overlooks the larger systemic issue of work-life balance and job stability for Singaporeans.

Many locals prioritize job security and work-life balance, not because they are "too cautious," but because they understand the high costs of living and family responsibilities.

It’s not about shying away from work, but about making sure their families’ well-being is prioritized over job risk. Encouraging a work culture that is increasingly demanding and precarious could be counterproductive in the long run.

Lastly, while jobs like taxi driving or food delivery may indeed provide significant income for some, they are not always sustainable or conducive to long-term career growth, especially for those with higher education aspirations.

The point about earning potential in these sectors might be valid in specific cases, but it doesn’t address the broader trend of a growing divide between the opportunities available to locals and the increasing reliance on foreign workers in the white-collar space.

These issues call for a deeper examination of how Singapore’s policies impact not just immediate economic needs, but also long-term social stability and equality.

Ultimately, the population strategy needs to be recalibrated to ensure that both locals and foreigners are given equitable opportunities while addressing the underlying factors that discourage family formation and career growth among Singaporeans.

 

[Willamshakespear]

Perhaps you & the insignificant nobody me may have different perceptions on what an Uni degree means.

For you, the POTENTIAL of an Uni degree means a white collar job with high financial rewards after 14 yrs of education mugging.

For me, an Uni degree only means a BROADENING of one's mind to knowledge of a bigger World & to find opportunities therein that exists, regardless if blue or white collar.

Ultimately, it is about Survival, for oneself, loved ones & even civilization...


1. An American & a Singaporean Uni grad expectations are as different as chalk & cheese, often limited by REALITIES.

America is a huge country with vast opportunities in industrialization & services. Thus the American grad would have no lack of job opportunities that he had slogged for years, more so now with PrezTrump whose aim is to make America great again.

Singapore had tried industrialization in the late 70s till the 80s, & realized our limitations - too small a land mass & a small market, for annual grads to fit in. Thus the Financial hub was created, as such hubs needs little manufacturing space, just offices which we have plenty on multi storey buildings.

Thus the Uni grad would have far bigger opportunities here. Just because one studied Engineering does not means one have to be straight laced into being an engineer. With the years of slog especially in mathematics, far wider opportunities lays within the banking & financial sectors. Equally too for doctorates in med sciences, as researchers in pharmaceutical firms, etc.

SUSTAINABILITY is never guaranteed, regardless white or blue collar jobs, in our ever changing world. In the end, the potential of an Uni grad lays not in a straight laced white collar jobs, but in his ability to seek out opportunities in life to put food on the table for loved ones - survival.



2. With our rather restrictive immigration policies, already set in place are measures to ensure that any foreign company that seeks to operate here MUST hire locals first or with quotas. As for foreign companies, it is understood that most of the top positions would be made up of foreigners as it is thru such talents that made them go worldwide.

Opportunities still abound for locals, but they MUST prove themselves that they can & are equipped for the job, as companies are not charity orgs, & thus Skills Future was created, ONLY for Singaporeans to level up, as learning is for life in our ever changing World...

 

[Willamshakespear]

Perhaps the ThreadStarter is having a rest now & only comprehensible as NO Human is a 24/7 robot & even NO robot would be able to work such 24/7/365 days a year...

Ultimately, this latest post by the insignificant nobody me here is to encourage OTHERS to share their views.

While the lingo & convincing style of writing by the Threadstarter be seemed by many naively as bombastic, but MOST Singaporeans are educated with the critical 3 Rs - reading, writing and arithmetics, regardless if one has a mere PSLE pass or PhD at Unis....We true blue blooded citizens born & bred here will leave no citizens behind....

NO question or solution is stupid, regardless of LINGO used - colloquial or Queen's english- so long it can be understood, as such are immediate & may even be self centred concerns without a bigger picture looked into, it just needs to be critically analysed by the more discerning... thus never be intimidated by any language or its styled used.

It's about one's sincere heartfelt thoughts that counts, to change others as no mortal is a genius or be changed by many others with far more experiences in education & life, to openly share & assist in the progression & evolution of oneself perceptions & one's rooted Nation & Civilization as a whole...

Even a child has a dream, of a better world. Life is no bed of roses, as our courageous Founding & forefathers realized, as Fairness & forgiveness lays only upon the strong, but rolled up their sleeves to give us our todays...it began as a dream...& realized thru much collective hardwork & sacrifices....


.

 

[laksaboy]

Nothing will change unless the PAP regime is ousted. The source of the problem cannot also be its solution. Reality doesn't work that way.

 

[Sinkiesuk]

Young jihukia very easily get jobs instead of sinkie. I remember a sinkie need to persuade and keep calling HR to give him job as he is fresh dip grad then somehow get in and is filled by jihukia.

 

[MyMother]

Perhaps you & the insignificant nobody me may have different perceptions on what an Uni degree means.

For you, the POTENTIAL of an Uni degree means a white collar job with high financial rewards after 14 yrs of education mugging.

For me, an Uni degree only means a BROADENING of one's mind to knowledge of a bigger World & to find opportunities therein that exists, regardless if blue or white collar.

Ultimately, it is about Survival, for oneself, loved ones & even civilization...


1. An American & a Singaporean Uni grad expectations are as different as chalk & cheese, often limited by REALITIES.

America is a huge country with vast opportunities in industrialization & services. Thus the American grad would have no lack of job opportunities that he had slogged for years, more so now with PrezTrump whose aim is to make America great again.

Singapore had tried industrialization in the late 70s till the 80s, & realized our limitations - too small a land mass & a small market, for annual grads to fit in. Thus the Financial hub was created, as such hubs needs little manufacturing space, just offices which we have plenty on multi storey buildings.

Thus the Uni grad would have far bigger opportunities here. Just because one studied Engineering does not means one have to be straight laced into being an engineer. With the years of slog especially in mathematics, far wider opportunities lays within the banking & financial sectors. Equally too for doctorates in med sciences, as researchers in pharmaceutical firms, etc.

SUSTAINABILITY is never guaranteed, regardless white or blue collar jobs, in our ever changing world. In the end, the potential of an Uni grad lays not in a straight laced white collar jobs, but in his ability to seek out opportunities in life to put food on the table for loved ones - survival.



2. With our rather restrictive immigration policies, already set in place are measures to ensure that any foreign company that seeks to operate here MUST hire locals first or with quotas. As for foreign companies, it is understood that most of the top positions would be made up of foreigners as it is thru such talents that made them go worldwide.

Opportunities still abound for locals, but they MUST prove themselves that they can & are equipped for the job, as companies are not charity orgs, & thus Skills Future was created, ONLY for Singaporeans to level up, as learning is for life in our ever changing World...

Your perspective on the purpose of a university degree is thought-provoking, but I respectfully disagree with the conclusions you’ve drawn about the realities faced by local graduates in Singapore.

While it’s true that a university education broadens one’s knowledge and perspective, it is also an investment. One that comes with significant financial and personal costs. For many, the expectation of a university degree leading to a stable, rewarding career isn’t just a matter of entitlement but a logical return on that investment. In Singapore’s context, the issue isn’t about grads being “straight-laced” into specific careers but about a job market that seems increasingly skewed in favor of foreign hires in white-collar roles, often leaving local talent underutilized. This is more than an individual's mindset; it’s a systemic issue that needs addressing.

Your point about restrictive immigration policies ensuring local hires misses the frustration many Singaporeans feel. Policies may require quotas, but these often apply to lower-level roles, while foreign professionals dominate senior positions, especially in sectors like finance and technology. SkillsFuture is a good initiative, but locals shouldn’t need to continuously "prove" their worth simply because companies prefer foreign candidates. It’s not about charity, it’s about fairness and creating opportunities for Singaporeans to thrive in their own country.

Lastly, survival is indeed essential, but shouldn’t we aim higher? Education and hard work should pave the way for meaningful careers, not just survival. While adaptability is important, locals shouldn’t have to resign themselves to being sidelined in favor of foreign talent, especially when they’ve worked just as hard to build their futures. Addressing this imbalance is crucial for long-term sustainability and social cohesion.

 

[congo9]

PAP has been opening up the door since 2006.
If the last 20 years of neoliberal policy can't work, it's the outcome.
We need more and more people to come in, work the economy. Churn the housing market. Attract deep pocket individual to set up family office. So that they park their funds here. Money attract more money. They invested in housing and real estate and keep pushing up the costs. Government is happy that they collect stamp duties, higher GDP through lead to people at the leadership work harder to this tried and tested formula.It just how things work. That's why people at the top are rewarded for producing astonishing GDP. What I'm mentioning is the only the result or objective the government wants to see.

But for the outcome , people got left behind and can't catch up. Thus they feel the strain and not wanting to procreate. Thus government has to throw in more incentive to encourage people to give birth. Also People needed more trenches of CDC voucher more then ever. But it's cheaper this way to keep the general populance happy.

So we are going back to square one...govt imported more and more people to work your GDP and local are not producing enough to replace the native population. It's not solving the root of problem at all. They can't solve cos the root of problem remain elusive and the government is not bringing out the bozooka to solve the issue.

 

[red amoeba]

the problem for now...those who shld reproduce ain't. Those who shldn't are.
government's tactic, bring in via immigration to balance out. no need for me to elaborate from where.
which is why they steadfastly refuse to disclose the ethnicity makeup of the new immigrants.

 

[Willamshakespear]

the problem for now...those who shld reproduce ain't. Those who shldn't are.
government's tactic, bring in via immigration to balance out. no need for me to elaborate from where.
which is why they steadfastly refuse to disclose the ethnicity makeup of the new immigrants.

Perhaps, each child here is born INNOCENT, regardless of any ethnicity, language or religion. It lays with the upbringing & education that parents & education can provide to ensure that the child born & bred here conforms to our proven although not perfect but a better 60yrs way of life here for descendants by our courageous Founding & forefathers than elsewhere in the World?

As for the ethnicity of new immigrants in Singapore, nothing escapes a simple Google search powered by AI....

I am only an insignificant nobody. Share your concerns here, & I along with others will attempt to help share when we can...but elected officials are the best persons to approach to allay fears, misunderstandings or ill perceived conceptions, so long as they are genuine & heartfelt...all the best.

 

[mojito]

The root cause of all our problems is actually climate change. That is why wages are stagnating, and housing prices going through the roof. We need to act fast double the price of plastic bags before it is too late!

 

[laksaboy]

The root cause of all our problems is actually climate change. That is why wages are stagnating, and housing prices going through the roof. We need to act fast double the price of plastic bags before it is too late!

Anyone who promotes this bullshit should be declared an enemy of the people and charged with treason.

Spare those drug mules and save some rope for fuckers like this turd:

 

[nabeifuckpap]

You sure PAP's immigration policy is not copied wholesale from somewhere else?

 

[mojito]

Yes but u c. Dees r your problems, not theirs.

 

[congo9]

The root cause of all our problems is actually climate change. That is why wages are stagnating, and housing prices going through the roof. We need to act fast double the price of plastic bags before it is too late!

Funny

 

[laksaboy]

You sure PAP's immigration policy is not copied wholesale from somewhere else?
View attachment 213223

Ah yes. Epstein Island's guest list might be revealed soon.