1 in 5 Singaporeans are overqualified for their jobs, according to a new survey by MAMA
Singaporean workers are better educated than ever, but that doesn’t always translate into the jobs they do.
A new study by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), released on April 14, finds that almost one in five (19.4%) of resident workers have a higher qualification than what their job requires in 2025, up from 16.3% in 2015.
And most of them chose this option voluntarily, with nearly nine out of 10 part-time workers—equivalent to 17.7% of live-in workers—saying they did so voluntarily.
Many are motivated by factors such as job stability, opportunities to use their skills, and interesting work. Others cited preferences such as a better work-life balance and working hours, personal interests, or higher salaries in roles such as sales, rather than not being able to find jobs that match their qualifications.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay said many workers are making deliberate career decisions that prioritize flexibility, fulfillment, or life needs, which shows a labor market that offers different options than one that is not well organized.
Despite rising overemployment rates, the data suggest they are not driven by a lack of suitable jobs, The Straits Times report. The role requiring higher education now accounts for 64.2% of the labor market, which is close to the 64% share of the workforce with higher education, up from 51.6% in 2015.
Only 1.7% of resident workers are overqualified: a figure that has remained below 3% over the past decade, according to MOM research, which uses labor force surveys and international benchmarks. MAMA said this suggests a limited structural disparity in the labor market.
The report also found that overtraining was common among young workers, especially those just starting their careers. Among those who are severely underqualified, more than a third are under the age of 35.
MAMA noted that this may reflect job creation, with younger workers gaining experience before moving on to better-matched roles later on.
Overqualified tertiary workers are often lumped into sales jobs, which may offer higher income opportunities, or into managerial and financial roles, where younger workers gain experience in entry-level roles before moving on to senior positions.
Many are also available in clerical roles such as general office clerks and customer information clerks, or rental car drivers.
For older workers aged 60 and over, voluntary overfit is increasing, with some choosing less demanding roles or alternatives as retirement approaches.
Employers are increasingly looking for skills and knowledge over paper qualifications
These studies also highlighted the changing patterns of employment, with employers increasingly favoring skills and experience over academic qualifications.
By 2025, academic credentials took a backseat to nearly 80% of vacancies. 48.2% of employers prioritized relevant experience, while 20.1% focused on skills instead.
At the same time, employers continue to face difficulties filling roles that require specialized skills, such as data scientists, teaching and training specialists, and civil engineers, which point to a skills gap in the workforce.
These vacancies have resulted in increased workloads for existing staff, missed business opportunities and declining quality standards.
MAMA and NTUC pointed out that this finding points to a “difference between workers and employers”.
“This suggests that the important issue is not that there are excessive qualifications per person but to ensure that the skills of employees are always in line with the changing needs of the work,” MAMA added.
NTUC has called for expanded support for workers in all job categories, with a particular focus on new help, more skills opportunities, and transition programs for those entering new job categories.
- Read more articles we’ve written about Singapore career trends here.
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