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Should S'poreans be given preferential access to jobs?: IPS pilot project guides S'poreans & foreigners to find common ground on difficult topics
January 20, 2026, 01:19 PM
A report released by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) highlighted a pilot project where Singaporeans and foreigners came together to talk about difficult topics pertaining to integration.
The results formed part of an IPS experiment on local-foreign integration, conducted in November 2025.
The experiment was done via a consensus conference, a structured deliberative process designed to ignite conversation on contested issues within a diverse group of residents.
Of 24 participants, two-thirds were Singapore citizens, while one-third were permanent residents or non-residents.
Four 'seed' statements were used in the conversation, two pertaining to employment and education.
Statement 1: Both locals and foreigners should make equal effort in getting to know each other and build deep relationships in the community.
Statement 2: Foreign professionals contribute to Singapore's economic growth, but Singaporeans must still be given preferential access to jobs and career progression.
Statement 3: Singaporeans should be given priority at local education institutions, including universities, even as we uphold the principle of meritocracy.
Statement 4: Singapore's openness to the world and support for multiculturalism and diversity helps us welcome people of different nationalities without losing who we are.
Priority for citizens
Across discussions, participants came to a shared consensus that they wanted meritocracy preserved, but also supported conditional priority for Singaporeans in jobs and publicly funded education, including universities.
A non-resident participant posited that Singapore citizens should receive preferential treatment "because they are the core of this country".
"They pay the most taxes, they are the most invested, and to treat them exactly the same as foreigners that could come from anywhere else, it's just not fair," she said.
At the same time, participants rejected narratives that over-emphasised dependence on foreigners, while neglecting that Singaporeans also contribute to Singapore's economic growth.
According to the pilot outcomes published in a 51-page residents' report, participants called for visible safeguards and checks in the labour market and education system.
They also suggested clearer differentiation for citizens through job visibility, admission priority and fee structures, as well as between citizens and PRs.
Jobs and education were noted to draw the strongest emotions during the study due to their higher stakes and zero-sum nature.
Upholding meritocracy
On the other hand, balancing meritocracy and preferential treatment for locals appeared to be the caveat to the sentiment.
Participants endorsed citizen priority, on condition that all things are equal.
One citizen, for instance, said, "If an expat, a foreign professional and Singaporean has the same qualifications, then there's no choosing. It’s a Singaporean you should hire."
Meanwhile, another citizen said, "I do not want to feel that I’m promoted just because I’m a local."
Where citizen preference was framed as fairness grounded in reciprocity rather than exclusion, foreign participants endorsed citizen priority.
Implications
IPS said this outcome suggested that the polarisation between locals and foreigners may be narrower than online discourse suggests.
It also indicated that foreigners recognised that citizens bear obligations that foreigners do not, including taxes and National Service and therefore should claim priority to opportunities.
Top image via Unsplash
