Profile of ONE and Tech.Pass Holders by Sector over Past Three Years, and Effectiveness of Talent Passes in Filling Skills Gaps in Local Workforce
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the number, sectoral breakdown, and effectiveness of Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass and Tech.Pass holders in complementing the local workforce. Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked the Acting Minister for Manpower for pass holder statistics over the past three years and how their economic impact is evaluated. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau noted that ONE Pass holders grew from 3,600 in 2023 to 8,500 in 2025, with 70% concentrated in financial, infocomm, and professional services. Tech.Pass figures remained stable, averaging around 200 holders over three years, primarily within the information and communication sector. She affirmed that these pass holders effectively fill skills gaps and create jobs by contributing deep expertise, global networks, and leadership in domains like artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and biomedical sciences.
Transcript
68 Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) what is the number and breakdown by sector of (i) Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass holders and (ii) Tech.Pass holders, respectively, in each of the past three years; and (b) how does the Government assess the effectiveness of these talent passes in attracting global talent to fill key skills gaps while complementing the local workforce.
Ms Jasmin Lau: Since the launch of the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) scheme in 2023, the number of ONE Pass holders has grown from around 3,600 in December 2023, to 6,300 in December 2024 and to 8,500 as of December 2025. About 70% of ONE Pass holders were employed in three sectors, namely financial and insurance services, information and communication, and professional services. Tech.Pass numbers have been stable, averaging around 200 over the last three years. Tech.Pass holders are mainly in the Information and Communication sector.
The steady growth in the number of ONE Pass holders reflects the attractiveness of these passes to global talent. ONE Pass holders complement the local workforce and contribute to the Singapore economy by bringing in key skills and capabilities, leadership experience and global networks which create good jobs and economic growth. They have contributed expertise in areas, such as AI, quantum technologies and biomedical sciences. For example, Dr Anders Jacobsen Skanderup from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research had developed a novel AI-based method to monitor cancer progression, contributing deep scientific expertise to Singapore's biomedical and AI ecosystem. Another example is Mr Oliver Jay, OpenAI's Managing Director of International Strategy and Operations, who brought experience in scaling technology companies, such as Dropbox and Asana, and has mentored local founders of high-growth companies, including Carousell and Glints.