Singapore fresh graduates are facing a widening gap between salary expectations and labour market realities, as rising living costs, economic uncertainty, and concerns over inequality fuel frustration among young workers.
A recent report by CNA citing findings from the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) School-to-Work Transition Survey, found that graduates across most disciplines earned less than they had expected upon entering the workforce.
The survey, conducted among residents aged 22 to 28, showed that one in three university graduates who rejected job offers did so because of low pay. Others turned down opportunities while waiting for better offers or due to concerns over career progression, workplace culture, and job interest.
Analysts interviewed by CNA said many graduates aim for higher starting salaries because they believe early pay significantly shapes future career progression and lifetime earnings. However, the data revealed notable gaps between expected and actual salaries, especially in engineering, science, and information technology roles, where graduates earned roughly S$500 to S$750 less than anticipated.
The mismatch was even larger in business administration and natural and mathematical sciences, while graduates in law, education, and fine and applied arts generally met or exceeded salary expectations.
The findings come as Singapore employers are expected to remain cautious on wage increases amid global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures. Analysts warned that unrealistic salary expectations could prolong graduates’ job searches, increase offer rejection rates, and contribute to underemployment.
The report has sparked intense online debate, with many Singaporeans questioning why younger workers are being urged to moderate expectations while corporate executives continue to receive large bonuses and political leaders remain among the world’s highest-paid officials.
“Ministers should walk the talk,” one commenter wrote on YouTube, while another said: “Then ask those in top management not to get fat bonuses every year.”
Netizens on Reddit platform linked stagnant wage growth and job insecurity to broader structural issues including rising housing costs, foreign labour competition, inflation, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on white-collar jobs.
One widely shared comment described modern Singapore as “a tale of two Singapores,” arguing that property owners and inherited wealth increasingly determine economic security.
“You know who are the winners? Only those who inherited properties from their grandparents or parents,” one Reddit user wrote, pointing to soaring rental prices and growing inequality.
Other commenters criticised what they viewed as a widening disconnect between rising productivity and wage growth.
“Funny how we need to keep accepting lower and lower wages despite productivity improving and inflation increasing,” another user wrote.
Several comments also reflected growing anxiety about AI-driven workplace transformation, with users arguing that technological advances are increasing employer expectations without translating into better pay or working conditions.
Analysts said the growing frustration reflects broader concerns among younger Singaporeans about affordability, social mobility, and long-term economic stability as the city-state navigates a more uncertain global economy.