Approximately 76,000 individuals, making up 3.1% of Singapore’s working populace, have experienced working overseas full-time for a minimum of six months. The primary locations for this international experience were China, the United States, and Malaysia.
From the portion of the employed population with experience working abroad, 18.3% had most recently been posted in mainland China. The United States followed closely, with 13.6% of the workers having had their most recent overseas experience there, while 10.1% had last worked in Malaysia.
These statistics were obtained from the 2025 Comprehensive Labour Force Survey. The survey, conducted from March to July, gathered responses from 33,000 households—comprising of employed individuals and job seekers aged 15 and above. In this survey, overseas work experience of residents was noted for the first time, providing insights into its prevalence within the workforce.
Those who had worked in China were primarily employed in the manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, most of the workforce in the United States were involved in growth industries such as professional services, information and communications, and financial and insurance services. In contrast, those in Malaysia were largely employed within the manufacturing and construction sectors.
In terms of job roles, 45.2% of residents held professional positions during their recent work abroad. 30.7% were managers. The most common professional roles were in business and administration (16%), and science and engineering (13.7%). For managers, administrative and commercial roles (11.4%) and production and specialized services roles (9.4%) were the most frequent.
Overseas work experience was most common among mid-career workers, with 4.6% of individuals in their 40s and 4.5% of those in their 50s having had an overseas posting. However, many of these workers had completed their overseas stints earlier in their careers, primarily between the ages of 25 to 34.
The report also revealed that international experience was less common among older and younger employees. Only 2.6% of employees in their 60s, 2.5% of those in their 30s and 0.5% of workers aged 25-29 had worked overseas.
The study found that those in senior roles or with higher incomes were more likely to have had international work experience. Among managers and executives, 7.7% had experience working abroad. Moreover, 16.8% of full-time residents currently earning at least S$30,000 (US$23,100) a month had previously worked overseas. This figure was at 10.6% for those earning S$15,000-19,999 monthly and about 3% for employees in the S$5,000-9,999 range.
The statistics emphasize the importance of international experience in fostering leadership skills and cross-cultural capabilities, particularly for those aspiring to higher-paying roles. Active planning and seeking overseas work opportunities is crucial to building necessary capabilities for these roles in the future.
What percentage of Singapore’s workforce has had full-time overseas work experience?
– About 3.1% of Singapore’s workforce, or 76,000 individuals, have had full-time overseas work experience.
What are the most popular destinations for overseas work assignments?
– The top destinations for overseas work assignments are China, the United States, and Malaysia.
Does international work experience correlate with higher income?
– Yes, the report suggests that those in senior roles or with higher incomes are more likely to have had international work experience. For instance, 16.8% of full-time residents currently earning at least S$30,000 (US$23,100) a month had previously worked overseas.
