Singapore is running out of engineers, and the consequences are dire

November 18, 2025• byEric L.

Without a steady supply of engineers, Singapore’s growth would be stalled

They are the ones responsible for ensuring that our MRTs, housing, and water systems operate smoothly, 24/7. Without engineers, the infrastructure we take for granted, such as an advanced MRT system, HDB flats, or a drinking water system, would probably not even exist.

However, the city-state faces one major problem: it’s running out of local engineers, and it’s an issue that has persisted for decades.

In 2003, nearly half of all university students in Singapore studied engineering. But the number has been steadily dropping since then, to just 22% in 2024, with some courses even experiencing double-digit declines. Local polytechnics are also witnessing a similar trend, with enrollment decreasing from 43% to 28% within 10 years.

So, why is this happening? Here’s what we know so far.

There are pay gaps between engineers and other roles

According to reports, expert opinions, and subreddit threads we’ve viewed, there is a pay gap between engineering jobs and other roles in industries such as finance, tech and business—fields that often promise higher salaries and faster career progression.

Singaporean professor and educator Dr Reginald Thio added that engineering roles aren’t safeguarded. In a LinkedIn post responding to a CNA article on the engineering crisis, he wrote that there is little distinction between diploma and degree holders, which depresses pay and status. “Almost anyone can be called ‘engineer’,” Dr Thio lamented.

He pointed out that having an engineering degree builds one’s analytical, computational, and mathematical skills, which are highly desirable in fields such as finance. However, the harsh reality for many local engineers is struggling with low salaries in a country with a high cost of living.

“Can we as a society choose to reward engineers properly the same way we do to bankers and property agents? This remains an open (and the ONLY) question,” he wrote.

Learning and development consultant Ives Tay also voiced his thoughts on the article on LinkedIn, though he argued that it’s more than just a matter of salaries. He wrote that the pay gap isn’t new; rather, it’s a symptom of a structural misalignment across Singapore’s economic, education, and workforce systems.

Tay explained that local institutions are using outdated syllabuses for engineering students, which are wired for the 1980s industrial model, where engineers are seen as executors. According to him, the real innovation is no longer found in traditional engineering but has migrated into AI, data, robotics, and product design.

“Those roles require deep engineering skill, but they are rewarded and recognised differently.”

Tay, who runs his own consulting firm, elaborated that the reason engineers are paid less compared to bankers and accountants is not because their work is less valuable, but due to a break in the value chain.

“Engineering creates public goods: infrastructure, safety, systems integrity. But the market doesn’t price public value well. Until we re-price engineering as a national strategic function, we’ll keep losing our best minds to sectors that simply monetise faster.”

As such, the industry is struggling to hire: more senior engineers are ageing along with Singapore’s current infrastructure, and there are fewer graduates to replace and build for the future. Engineering roles in the semiconductor, energy, and construction industries are also on Singapore’s official Shortage Occupation List.

So, what is being done to encourage more people to go into engineering?

For the civil engineering sector, a task force for architectural and engineering consultants was established earlier this Sep, where a total of 11 recommendations were made to drive talent in the industry. This includes internships with higher starting salaries and mentors, as well as suggested improvements to current hiring practices.

Other educational institutions, such as the Singapore Institute of Technology, shared with CNA that they regularly review and refresh their programmes, as interest in their engineering courses has remained “robust overall.” At Nanyang Technological University, electrical and electronic engineering remains a popular choice due to the global demand for sustainable energy and skilled tech professionals.

While the large-scale impacts of these initiatives have yet to be seen, they are baby steps for more Singaporeans to become interested in engineering, and that will only help if the young remain resolute in pursuing “old-school” professions.

Singapore was built by engineers. The question is: who’s going to build what comes next?