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Source: www.mha.gov.sg |
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Written Answer to
Parliamentary Question on projection of immigration for the next 5
years |
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Ms Sylvia Lim: |
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To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Home Affairs if he will provide a projection, for the next
5 years, of the number of additional foreigners the Government intends
to add to the resident population of Singapore and for which skill
sector or industries. |
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Mr Wong Kan Seng: |
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Projection on immigration |
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From 2001-2004, an average of 35,250 new
permanent residents (PR) and 7,130 new Singapore citizens (SC) were
granted per annum. In 2005, about 52,300 new PRs and 12,900 new SCs were
granted. |
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The average numbers of new PRs and SCs are
38,700 and 8,300 respectively, for the period 2001-2005. We could expect
to add about 200,000 new PRs and 40,000 new SCs in the next 5 years if
we get the same numbers of new PRs and SCs as in the last 5 years. |
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Profile of immigrants |
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Many new PRs and SCs in Singapore were
employment pass holders, usually graduates or diploma-holders who are
skilled professionals or managers working in our strategic economic
sectors such as the finance, biomedical sciences and creative
industries. |
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Beyond education qualifications, we
also look for those with relevant experience and/or specific
skills that can add vibrancy and diversity, and meet the needs of
our economy. As the nature and needs of our economy change, we
will adjust our requirements accordingly to ensure that new PRs
and SCs fit the relevant profile. |
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Competition for talented migrants |
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Singapore is not the only country
grappling with population issues. Many countries are seeking
suitable migrants to augment their population. For example, the
US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong have
programmes in place to target and attract suitable immigrants. |
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Even Japan, traditionally a homogenous
society, has begun to open its doors to non-ethnic Japanese
immigrants. It was recently reported that there are more than two
million such immigrants who are Japanese citizens today. |
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The conclusion from this is clear ¨C
many countries are facing demographic challenges which will affect
their economic vitality and viability if they are unable to
augment their population and workforce. Immigration is a necessary
and critical strategy in this regard. |
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Rationale for encouraging
immigration |
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Our birth rate has been falling. In
2004 and 2005, we only had 1.25 babies born per woman, i.e. a
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.25. This is way below the 2.1
level needed to replace ourselves. Falling birth rates is a common
phenomenon among many other countries. |
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Since 2004, we have put in place a
comprehensive marriage and parenthood package to encourage more
resident births. Nevertheless, it would require an attitudinal
change towards a more pro-family mindset among Singaporeans. |
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It is unlikely that we will be able to
reach the TFR of 2.1 to replace ourselves. This is why our
approach to augmenting our population is three-pronged: encourage
more Singaporeans to get married and have more babies; keep our
overseas-based Singaporeans connected and committed to Singapore;
and top up our population and workforce with suitable immigrants. |
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Singapore must and will continue to
welcome immigrants who can identify with our way of life and whose
diverse talents can contribute to the vibrancy and viability of
our country. |
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The Government will monitor our
population growth closely to ensure that the quality of life and
well-being of Singaporeans will not be compromised as
ourpopulation grows through careful urban planning and
development. |
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Source: www.mha.gov.sg
News Release 22 Jan 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sun 28 January 2007
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