In a globally-competitive environment, Singapore has to stand out given our lack of natural resources and small economy. It’s unsurprising that Singapore relies heavily on human capital, i.e. the talent of its workforce.
With the country seeking roles that are both vital for growth and on-the-ground functionality, it can be increasingly hard for local Singaporeans alone to fill these roles. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and other agencies, has come up with the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
This defines a set of professions where local talent remains thin, yet where demand continues to rise. As a result, the SOL is a crucial tool in shaping workforce and immigration policy to ensure Singapore remains competitive on a global scale.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about the SOL as well as a list of high-demand jobs that few locals can fill.
What Is The SOL Framework?
Released in November 2024 and effective from 1 January 2025, the SOL applies to both new Employment Pass (EP) applications and renewals.
Within this framework, candidates in these “hard-to-fill” jobs can receive bonus points under the COMPASS points system, potentially streamlining and speeding up their approval process. So, what goes into selecting these occupations?
First, there’s a rigorous process behind the scenes. Authorities look at each role’s strategic importance, evaluate the severity of labour gaps, and then consider how actively sectors are developing local pipelines to address these shortages.
Of course, these aren’t throwaway titles but are actually roles that matter deeply to Singapore’s economic trajectory.
Therefore, the Government takes it seriously and seeks out the best talent out there if it’s not available locally. Here’s a quick look at 5 roles on the SOL, that few locals are able to fill.
#1 Alternative Protein Food Scientists
Singapore has big ambitions in agritech and sustainable food. To reduce its reliance on imports, the city-state is investing heavily in alternative proteins. But roles like food application scientists (who specialise in fermentation, extrusion technology, and recipe formulation) are difficult to fill locally.
These experts drive innovation in plant-based and cultivated proteins, which are central to Singapore’s “30 by 30” food security goal (producing 30% of nutritional needs locally by 2030). For a small country that has nearly no natural resources, food security is a big national security priority.
#2 Registered Nurses
Healthcare is another area where shortages are persistent. Registered nurses remain on the SOL as hospitals, polyclinics, and old-aged care facilities face rising demand with an ageing population, while grappling with Singapore’s notoriously low birth rate.
While Singapore continues to expand its nursing programmes and scholarships, the sheer growth in healthcare needs means the country still has to rely on foreign nurses to fill critical gaps in care.
Read Also: Salary Guide To How Much You Can Earn As A Nurse In Public Healthcare
#3 AI Engineers And Data Scientists
In the technology sector, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage. So, it’s not really that shocking to learn that AI engineers and data scientists stand out as some of the hardest roles to fill.
These professionals are crucial in driving digital transformation, whether in financial services, healthcare, logistics, or government. While local universities here are ramping up AI talent pipelines, the reality is that demand far outpaces supply.
Given how quickly technologies like machine learning and generative AI are evolving, Singapore competes with global AI hubs like Silicon Valley, London, Paris, and Beijing for the same limited pool of talent.
Read Also: Why Are Job Vacancies Rising Even As Unemployment Goes Up?
#4 Carbon Traders And Sustainability Specialists
The green economy is a relatively new but fast-growing pillar of Singapore’s workforce strategy. We can see the importance attached to it from the country’s sustainability roadmap; “Singapore Green Plan 2030”.
Jobs such as carbon traders, carbon methodology analysts, and verification specialists are included on the SOL. These roles ensure that carbon projects are properly designed, tracked, and certified.
With Singapore positioning itself as a carbon services hub for Asia, the demand for such niche professionals has surged well beyond the small number of locals trained in this field.
#5 Marine Superintendents
Singapore is still one of the busiest maritime centres in the world, and that means technical roles in shipping remain essential.
Marine superintendents and technical superintendents (i.e. those who oversee vessel safety, compliance, and engineering operations) are tough to hire locally.
They require years of specialised seafaring experience before transitioning to shore-based roles and it’s increasingly a career path that fewer young Singaporeans are willing to take today.
Building Singapore’s Future Workforce
It’s worth noting that updates to the SOL are done only once a year, with a comprehensive review set to take place every three years. This ensures the list stays relevant to the time but also predictable.
This means it can offer employers some runway to plan hiring strategies accordingly. It’s also important to remember that changes to the list don’t retroactively affect existing EPs, so if someone is already here under a shortage-occupation designation (and that occupation is subsequently taken off the SOL), their pass duration still remains intact.
All of this underlines a broader reality and that is that Singapore still has roles that locals aren’t trained, or able, to fill.
Rather than indiscriminately hiring foreigners, the government is carefully identifying roles that lack local capacity and providing channels, through the SOL and COMPASS, that support the targeted filling of those labour gaps.
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