RI T1W4 Immigration to Singapore 2021

Why do People Migrate to Singapore?•Immigration policy•Migrant workers address shortfall in labourmarket•PRs and new SCs address low birth rate & ageing population •Economic opportunities•Business-friendly environment •Sustained economic growth •Sociocultural environment•Community support•Safe environment•Education system

Singapore’s Immigration Trends•Immigration accounts for most of SG’s growthfrom founding to WWII, with most migrants from China, India and the Malay Archipelago; population quickly grew from hundreds to ~500k by 1931 census•Temporarily ceasedduring Japanese Occupation, limitedduring path to independence (50s—60s) and restrictedfurther still in years just after (60s—70s) •Increased again only in the 80s after Singapore became more industrialised(Yeoh & Lin, 2012)

Singapore’s Immigration Trends•Majority of immigrants (as at 2010) born in Malaysia; China, Hong Kong and Macau; South Asia; Indonesia; and other Asian countries•Direct consequence of policies to attract and rely on foreign manpower at both the high and low ends of the labourspectrum to overcome limitations of local human capital

Singapore’s GDP (current US$) 1965-2019

Singapore’s Total Resident and Nonresident Workforce, 1980-2010

Singapore’s Immigration Trends•Most of new arrivals in 2010 (about 870k) are low-skilled workers in construction, domestic labour, services, manufacturing, and marine industries; since 2008, some admitted as performers in the entertainment and F&B industries•Remaining 240k are skilled and generally better-educatedS-pass or EP holders and entrepreneurs