MOM’s study used an internationally comparable measure developed with the International Labour Organization, which assesses whether a worker’s highest qualification exceeds the level typically required for their occupation.
The findings are based on data from the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, which covered about 33,000 households in Singapore.
NTUC’s study, conducted with about 1,100 Singapore citizens and permanent residents in October 2025, complemented this with survey-based and self-assessed indicators such as skills, qualification and field-of-study mismatches to provide a broader picture of underemployment.
The statement said the pair of studies shed light on where there may be “under-utilisation of human capital”, but also need to be seen in the context of “a fast-changing world with shortening half-lives of skills”.
“The skills and knowledge acquired in tertiary education must be refreshed by new skills and experiences, including those acquired in workplaces,” said the statement.
DRIVEN BY CHOICE
Among overqualified workers, about nine in 10 – or 17.7 per cent of the workforce – were in roles below their qualification levels, often due to preferences such as work-life balance, flexibility or career transitions.
According to MOM, the share of involuntarily overqualified workers (1.7 per cent) has remained low and stable – at below 3 per cent – over the past decade, suggesting limited structural mismatch in the labour market.
Those who voluntarily take on roles below their qualifications most commonly cite job stability (31.1 per cent), the ability to use their skills (25.3 per cent), and interesting work (24.4 per cent). Others prioritise flexible arrangements such as suitable working hours and flexible schedules, highlighting a wide range of personal motivations.
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