Singapore is known for being an international business hub with a diverse and multicultural workforce. Many companies in Singapore actively recruit foreign professionals to fill skills gaps and meet business needs. Singapore maintains a open visa policy to attract global talent, making it relatively straightforward for companies to hire foreign workers.
Why do companies in Singapore hire foreigners?
There are several key reasons why companies in Singapore hire foreign workers:
- Access to global talent and skills – Singapore companies want to hire the best talent globally for specialist roles.
- Fill local skills gaps – The resident workforce in Singapore may lack certain skills and experience that foreign professionals can fill.
- Support business growth – Expanding Singapore companies need to rapidly hire to support growth plans.
- Diversity – Foreign staff adds to the multicultural environment preferred by many Singapore firms.
The Singapore government actively encourages companies to recruit globally, as foreign manpower contributes to the country’s status as a global business hub.
What industries in Singapore hire the most foreigners?
Certain sectors in Singapore have a particularly high demand for foreign workers due to skills shortages and rapid growth. The industries hiring the most foreigners in Singapore are:
- Financial services – Major banks and financial institutions need global expertise to operate in Singapore’s asset management and private banking hub.
- Technology – Tech startups and MNCs require software developers, programmers and those with digital skills from around the world.
- Commerce – Singapore is growing as a regional HQ and marketing hub, driving demand for commercial managers and executives.
- Engineering – Foreign engineers are sought for large infrastructure, construction and engineering projects.
- Education – International schools need foreign teachers, especially those with English language capabilities.
- Healthcare – Doctors and medical professionals are recruited globally to service Singapore’s aging population.
What types of foreigners do companies in Singapore hire?
There are several main types of foreign professionals commonly hired in Singapore:
- Specialized expats – Highly skilled foreign talent like tech specialists, senior bankers, researchers.
- Global managers – International executives to lead Singapore regional HQs or handle APAC expansion.
- Technical staff – Engineers, designers, technicians for infrastructure projects and manufacturing.
- Language teachers – Native English speakers, and mother-tongue language teachers for international schools.
- Hospitality staff – Hotels and restaurants hire experienced service-oriented staff worldwide.
- Construction workers – Builders, tradesmen, labourers from developing countries are hired for projects.
The profile of foreigners in demand depends on the company’s industry and business needs when expanding operations in Singapore.
What are the major companies hiring foreigners in Singapore?
Some of the top companies currently hiring foreign professionals in Singapore include:
Financial Services
- DBS Bank
- OCBC
- UOB
- Citibank
- Standard Chartered
- JPMorgan
- HSBC
- Goldman Sachs
- Morgan Stanley
- BNP Paribas
Technology
- Sea Limited (Shopee)
- Bytedance (TikTok)
- Salesforce
- Oracle
- SAP
- ZenDesk
- Cisco
- IBM
Commerce
- P&G
- Unilever
- Nestle
- L’Oreal
- Samsung
- LVMH
- Danone
- Dyson
- LG Corporation
- Shiseido
Engineering & Infrastructure
- Arup
- Surbana Jurong
- Hyundai Engineering
- Samsung C&T
- China Railway
- CSCEC
- Obayashi
- WSP Global
- Jacobs
- Aurecon
Education
- EF Education
- Kaplan
- Mindchamps
- Cognita Schools
- Dover Court International School
- Canadian International School
- Tanglin Trust School
- United World College SEA
- GESF International School
- UDL International School
These major foreign-hiring companies indicate the diversity of industries requiring global expertise in Singapore.
What positions do foreigners take up?
Some of the key positions filled by foreign hires in Singapore include:
- C-Suite executives – CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs
- Regional heads – APAC heads, ASEAN directors
- Investment bankers – Corporate finance, trading
- Private bankers – Wealth management
- Engineers – Civil, electrical, mechanical
- Tech specialists – Cloud architects, data scientists, programmers
- Marketing specialists – Digital marketing, social media strategists
- Designers – Graphics, UX/UI
- Sales executives – Business development
- Consultants – Management, HR, technology
- Teachers – English teachers, early childhood educators
- Medical staff – Doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants
- Service staff – Waiting, events, customer service
- Manual labour – Construction workers, shipyard workforce
Multinational companies need experienced foreign professionals to fill skills gaps at senior, specialized or technical levels in Singapore.
What qualifications and skills are needed?
Most foreign professionals hired in Singapore need to meet the following requirements:
- A university degree or professional qualifications
- Proven work experience and expertise in their field
- Technical capabilities like programming or systems knowledge
- Global or regional exposure gained overseas
- Excellent English communication skills
- For senior roles – leadership and management experience directing teams
- Degree field relevant to position – e.g. finance, engineering, IT
- Cultural fit and ability to adapt to Singapore working culture
- Eagerness for international assignment and mobility
Many companies prioritize international experience and technical expertise when hiring foreign professionals in Singapore.
What salaries do foreigners earn?
Salaries for foreign professionals in Singapore are competitive and depend on their seniority, skills and experience level. Some approximate salary ranges:
| Position | Annual Salary Range |
|---|---|
| C-Suite Executive | $250,000 – $500,000+ |
| Regional Director | $150,000 – $350,000 |
| Banking MD | $400,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| Investment Banker | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Engineer | $50,000 – $120,000 |
| Architect | $60,000 – $150,000 |
| Tech Lead | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Marketing Director | $120,000 – $250,000 |
| Teacher | $50,000 – $90,000 |
| Nurse | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| Service Staff | $2,000 – $3,000 monthly |
| Construction Worker | $700 – $1,500 monthly |
Senior bankers, lawyers and executives at MNCs enjoy very high salaries of over $200,000 annually in Singapore.
What are the visa options for working in Singapore?
There are several work visa routes for foreigners seeking jobs and careers in Singapore:
- Employment Pass – For foreign professionals, managers and executives earning at least $4,500 monthly. Valid up to two years.
- S Pass – For mid-level skilled staff with minimum earnings of $2,500 monthly. Valid up to two years.
- EntrePass – For foreign entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in Singapore.
- Personalized Employment Pass (PEP) – For high earners with earnings of at least $18,000 monthly. Valid for up to three years.
- Training Employment Pass (TEP) – For foreign trainees or interns on short-term internships in Singapore companies.
- Work Holiday Pass – For foreign students or graduates aged 18-25 who want short-term work. Valid up to one year.
- Work Permit – For lower-skilled foreign workers in construction, domestic, marine and processing sectors.
EP and PEP passes are most applicable for professionals and executives seeking long-term employment in Singapore.
Key eligibility criteria
To qualify for Singapore work visas like EP and PEP, typical requirements include:
- Minimum salary level set for each pass type
- Recognized tertiary qualification or professional skills
- Relevant work experience for the advertised job
- Company’s justification for hiring the foreigner
- Company paid up employment levy for hiring foreigners
- Clear criminal record and good health
- Meet minimum age requirement of 21+ years
Meeting the eligibility criteria ensures expats have the skills to contribute to the Singapore economy.
What are the best resources for finding foreigner jobs?
Some top resources to search for foreigner-friendly job opportunities in Singapore include:
- LinkedIn Jobs – Extensive listings in Singapore from global companies.
- Glassdoor – User reviews help assess foreign hiring companies.
- JobStreet – Popular for tech and service industry roles.
- JobsCentral – Resource for Singapore jobs across sectors.
- Monster.com – Global job portal with Singapore opportunities.
- Startup Jobs Asia – Tech focused roles at Asia startups.
- Singapore Expats – Classifieds site with work listings.
- eFinancialCareers – Jobs from top banks and financial employers.
- Hays Recruitment – Multinational recruitment firm with Singapore openings.
- Robert Half – Professional recruitment for roles like banking, tech and sales.
Joining industry-specific LinkedIn groups and forums can also help identify job vacancies suitable for foreigners.
What are the unique benefits for foreigners working in Singapore?
Foreign professionals in Singapore enjoy numerous advantages and perks:
- Strategic Asia hub location – Opportunity to support regional or global role while based in Singapore.
- Low tax rates – Singapore income tax can be as low as 10% for non-residents.
- World-class infrastructure – Advanced facilities, great transport links and connectivity.
- Cosmopolitan lifestyle – Experience Singapore’s rich culture with vibrant leisure options.
- Travel opportunities – Chance to easily visit Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Safety and stability – Singapore offers a extremely secure environment to live and work in.
- Option to acquire PR – Can become Singapore permanent resident after living a few years in country.
- Gain Asian experience – Enhance career prospects by acquiring Asia expertise with Singapore role.
Singapore offers an unrivalled base for expats to advance their ambitions and enjoy a world-class lifestyle in Asia.
Conclusion
Singapore provides tremendous opportunities for foreigners looking to advance their careers and gain experience in Asia. Major global companies across industries actively hire foreign professionals to address skills gaps and drive business growth in Singapore. From tech startups to big banks, openings exist for skilled expats able to meet work visa criteria. Resources like LinkedIn make it easy to identify vacancies, while Singapore offers unique advantages from low taxes to an ideal living environment.
