Many questions to ponder in annual population report

I refer to the report “S’pore’s population grows 1.3% to 5.6 million” (Sept 28).

The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) disclosed that the number of non-residents grew by 2.5 per cent to 1.67 million, “mainly foreigners working here and their families, as well as international students”.

There was stronger growth in the number of foreign domestic workers, and, of the non-resident population, 16 per cent are dependants, 11 per cent hold Employment Passes and 14 per cent are foreign domestic workers.

If an Employment Pass holder brings in a spouse, up to two parents and two children and perhaps a foreign domestic worker, there would be six arrivals for one person hired for a vacancy a Singaporean could not fill.

Are there more dependants than foreign talent arriving in Singapore? The annual population brief raises such questions of interest to Singaporeans at a time of rising unemployment and constraints on resources such as hospitals and transport.

Where do many of these dependants come from, what are their demographics, how long do they stay and what is being done to keep the numbers within a manageable range, given Singapore’s land constraints?

It is often said that foreigners are hired for roles not filled by Singaporeans, such as those in the construction and hospitality sectors.

However, what are some of the white-collar roles filled by Employment Pass holders that Singaporeans could not fill? Can Singaporeans be retrained to fill these roles and keep Singapore competitive? Further insights are required.

And to what extent are foreigners, especially Long Term Visit Pass holders, utilising local resources such that Singaporeans feel crowded out?

These are questions that organisations such as the NPTD could answer to address perceptions that can cause angst among some Singaporeans.