I moved to Singapore five years ago with the intention of finding a job and making a life for myself in the vibrant city.
I had heard about the opportunities for expatriates and was keen to make the most of them.
But my dreams of finding a great job in Singapore have been dashed. I have been lowballed and out-bid by foreign workers who are willing to work for a fraction of my salary.
The competition for jobs in Singapore is fierce.
The number of foreign workers coming to Singapore has increased significantly in recent years, and this has put downward pressure on salaries. Many employers are willing to hire foreign workers for lower salaries than they would pay to local Singaporean citizens. This has the effect of making it harder for local Singaporeans to get jobs.
I went through the usual job search process, applying to dozens of jobs and attending interviews. But each time, I was outbid by a foreign worker who was willing to work for a much lower salary than I was. I couldn’t compete with them and it became clear that I had no chance of finding a job in Singapore.
I was also shocked by the attitudes of some employers. They seemed to have no qualms about paying foreign workers lower wages than local Singaporeans. It was as if they saw these foreign workers as disposable commodities; they could be used and discarded at will. I found this deeply troubling and it made me feel like I didn’t belong here.
After months of searching, I have finally decided to give up on finding a job in Singapore.
I am disappointed that I was unable to make a life for myself here, but I cannot continue to compete with foreign workers who are willing to work for much lower salaries.
I know that I am not alone in this experience. Many local Singaporeans have been similarly lowballed and out-bid by foreign workers. It is a sad situation and it makes me want to leave Singapore.
There are many great opportunities in Singapore, and I am sure that many expatriates have been able to make a success of their lives here. But for some of us, the reality is that it is very difficult to find a job in Singapore and compete with foreign workers.
I still have a great deal of respect for Singapore and its people. I am grateful for the time I have spent here, and for the experiences I have had. But it is time for me to move on. I am now looking for work elsewhere and I hope that I will have better luck.