SINGAPORE: Nearly one in five workers in Singapore holds qualifications beyond what their jobs require, but the vast majority have made that choice voluntarily, according to a new study released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Tuesday (April 14).
The study found that 19.4% of resident workers were overqualified in 2025, marking an increase from 16.3% a decade earlier. However, the data suggests that this trend is largely driven by personal choice rather than a lack of suitable opportunities.
Of those identified as overqualified, about nine in 10, equivalent to 17.7% of the resident workforce, had deliberately taken on such roles. Reasons cited include a preference for improved work-life balance, flexible working arrangements, personal interests, or better pay in certain roles, particularly in sales. In contrast, only 1.7% reported being unable to secure jobs that better matched their qualifications, a figure that has remained below 3% over the past 10 years.
A separate survey conducted by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design produced similar findings. Polling 1,100 residents in October 2025, the study found that 22.5% considered themselves overqualified. Among them, 85.5% said their employment situation was by choice, with many balancing caregiving responsibilities for young children or elderly family members.
Overqualification tends to be more prevalent in advanced economies, where a larger proportion of the workforce holds higher education qualifications. In Singapore, 64% of resident workers had a tertiary education in 2025, significantly above the 41.2% average across high-income countries. Despite this, Singapore’s overqualification rate of 19.4% remains below the 21.6% average observed in comparable economies.
In a joint statement, MOM and NTUC said the figures reflect the country’s continued ability to generate high-skilled jobs, noting that the rise in overqualification has been moderate and broadly in line with global trends.
The data also indicates that the increase is not due to a shortage of suitable roles. The proportion of jobs requiring tertiary qualifications, 64.2%, closely matches the share of degree holders in the workforce. At the same time, tertiary-educated workers have continued to see income growth, with median monthly salaries rising from $5,800 to $7,605 over the past decade.
