Oral Answer to PQ on Data on work pass and occupational breakdown

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1381 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON 6 OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 3101 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) of the 9,200 non-resident employment growth in the second quarter of 2026, how many were (i) Work Permit (ii) S Pass and (iii) Employment Pass holders, respectively; (b) of the S Pass and Employment Pass holders, which occupations saw the highest growth; and (c) how did this compare with resident employment growth in those same occupations.

Answer:

Of the 9,200 net increase in non-resident employment in the second quarter of 2026, Work Permit holders (excluding migrant domestic workers) accounted for an increase of 10,900, while S Pass and Employment Pass holders each declined by 900.

2. The occupational data for the second quarter of 2026 is not yet available. At the sectoral level, S Pass and Employment Pass declines were concentrated in Professional Services, Financial Services, and Information and Communications, while resident employment in these sectors increased.

3. S Pass and Employment Pass employment increased most in Administrative and Support Services, a broad sector covering security, cleaning, recruitment and office support services, among others. The increase was mainly in office administrative and support services. On the other hand, resident employment fell in the broader Administrative and Support Services sector, though this was concentrated in a different sub-sector of employment placement and recruitment services. As the resident and non-resident movements were driven by different sub-sectors, the available data from the second quarter does not suggest displacement of residents by S Pass and Employment Pass holders.