Almost 1 in 5 S'poreans are overqualified for their job, mostly voluntarily

About 19.4 per cent of Singapore citizens and PRs were found to be overqualified for their jobs, a study by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) found.

In most instances, workers voluntarily chose to do so, as they opted for roles that align with their aspirations and working preferences instead of those that utilise their formal qualifications.

Singapore's figure sits lower than the high-income countries' average of 21.6 per cent, despite having a higher share of tertiary-educated workers.

A complementary study by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) similarly found that 23 per cent of respondents self-reported experiencing underemployment due to qualification-job mismatch, a figure similar to the OECD average.

The union utilised the International Labour Organization's (ILO) framework for qualification-related underemployment, a type of non time-related underemployment that also considers other holistic factors like skills and education field mismatches.

What is overqualification?

MOM defined overqualification as a situation wherein a worker’s qualifications exceed job requirements.

According to them, high-income countries typically have a larger proportion of tertiary-educated workers and correspondingly higher overqualification rates.

Singapore's relatively lower rate of overqualification in relation to the size of its tertiary-educated workforce, as compared to other high-income countries, can be attributed to the nation's continued creation of high-skilled jobs, the ministry said.

Mostly voluntary

About nine in 10 cases of overqualification in Singapore are voluntary.

In other words, workers chose roles below their qualification level due to personal preferences, rather than because they were unable to find suitable jobs.

Involuntary overqualification makes up about 1.7 per cent of the workforce, a number that MOM said has remained low and stable over the past decade.

NTUC's study, which came to the same conclusion, found that the proportion of respondents that reported being overqualified were highest among younger adults under 35, degree or diploma and professional qualification holders, part-timers and early-middle career stage workers.

Implications

The results of both studies were consistent with shifting employer behaviours in Singapore, said MOM.

As of 2025, academic qualifications were not the primary consideration for 79.6 per cent of vacancies, but rather relevant experience and skills were two major consideration factors.

"This indicates that differences between workers’ qualifications and job requirements do not necessarily translate into hiring disadvantages," said MOM.

A lack of the necessary skillset required, instead of qualification levels, are more likely to explain hiring challenges.

The studies found that almost one quarter of employers reported experiencing skills gaps in their workforce, which results in increased workloads for other staff and difficulties in meeting quality standards.

On the issue of voluntary overqualification, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay said the union will work with tripartite partners to ensure the labour market remains flexible and inclusive, so as to meet the needs of workers today.

MOM Deputy Secretary (Workforce) Kenny Tan added that in light of the shift in employers' preference for specific skillsets instead of academic qualifications, workers should embrace lifelong learning, such as through upskilling and reskilling pathways.

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