Singapore’s digital economy added S$128.1 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, accounting for 18.6 per cent of the economy.
According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), this high-growth sector supported 214,000 tech jobs—up from 208,300 the year before.
These figures form a narrative of a booming digital future.
But against Singapore’s official labour force data, the numbers raise more questions than they answer—particularly when it comes to who, exactly, is benefiting from this growth.
A booming sector, but modest job creation?
Based on IMDA’s data, Singapore added 5,700 tech jobs in 2024.
This increase corresponds to a 0.1 percentage point rise in tech employment as a share of the total workforce—from 5.2 per cent to 5.3 per cent.
For a sector said to be “transforming the economy”, the year-on-year increase appears more incremental than explosive.
Even accepting the higher figure of 5,700 new tech roles, it represents a 2.7 per cent growth in tech headcount—a rate that might be expected in any stable sector, let alone one considered central to future national competitiveness.
Are locals getting these jobs?
The Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Force in Singapore 2024 report provides critical context.
Total employment (excluding domestic workers) grew by 44,500.
Of this, only 8,800 were taken up by residents—a group that includes both citizens and permanent residents (PRs).
35,700 of the new jobs were filled by non-residents—mostly foreign workers.
In light of this, if 5,700 tech jobs were added and resident employment rose by 8,800, tech jobs would account for over 60 per cent of resident employment growth.
This appears significant—until one realises that the numbers do not differentiate between Singapore citizens and PRs.
Without this breakdown, there is no way to know how many of those tech jobs actually went to citizens.
Is public funding benefiting citizens?
This question is particularly relevant because of Singapore’s extensive public investment in digital skills development.
Initiatives such as the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) and Productivity Solutions Grant aim to train and place Singaporeans into high-growth, high-pay tech roles.
But without data showing citizen-level outcomes, it is impossible to assess whether these programmes are achieving their stated goals.
When public funds are used to train locals, the public has a right to know: did Singaporeans get the jobs?
Why the mismatch between messaging and evidence?
IMDA’s report highlights rising wages in the tech sector—S$7,950 median monthly pay for resident tech professionals in 2024.
This is nearly double the S$4,860 median for all resident workers.
However, “resident” here, too, includes PRs.
PRs—many of whom are mid-career hires with global experience—often command higher salaries than citizens.
Aggregating both groups paints an incomplete picture of how citizens are faring in the tech economy.
Meanwhile, total tech job growth was under 6,000. In a workforce of over four million, such figures do not suggest a revolution.
And yet, the government’s narrative speaks of digital transformation across all sectors—finance, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and more.
If tech roles are growing everywhere, why are they not clearly reflected in local employment numbers?
A call for greater transparency
The question is not whether Singapore needs foreign workers in tech. It does—and they continue to play an important role in developing and supporting emerging industries.
But Singapore’s policy commitment is also to ensure that its citizens are not left behind in this transition.
Without disaggregated data—by sector, occupation, and citizenship status—it is impossible to assess whether this balance is being maintained.
Until such clarity is offered, Singaporeans are left in the dark on a central question of national economic strategy.
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