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Singapore's COMPASS system: Updated C5. Skills Bonus - Shortage Occupation List to take effect on 1 Jan 2025

Singapore's COMPASS system: Updated C5. Skills Bonus - Shortage Occupation List to take effect on 1 Jan 2025

The updated SOL will apply to new and renewal EP applications. Here's what to expect in financial services, infocomm technology, and more sectors.

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has shared an updated list of occupations in its Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which will be eligible for the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) C5. Skills Bonus.

The C5. Skills Bonus is a crucial component of the COMPASS assessment, a points-based system used to evaluate Employment Pass (EP) applicants. Candidates must successfully pass this assessment, in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary, to be eligible for the EP. 

To obtain the C5. Skills bonus,

  • Candidates need to perform the job duties listed for the specific shortage occupation. 
  • Employers are required to select one of the eligible job titles in their EP application. 
  • Candidates needs to meet checks on additional job requirements if they fall into either of these categories: 
  1. They need the SOL bonus points to pass COMPASS. 
  2. They are applying for a five-year duration EP for a specific tech occupation on the SOL. 

Updates to the SOL  

According to MOM's November 2024 update, occupations may be added or removed from the SOL once a year, to remain responsive to market conditions and will be comprehensively reviewed every three years. 

However, SOL updates will not affect the duration of existing EPs. 

SOL occupations 

Candidates working in the occupations on the SOL may not need to be working in the respective sectors listed below to qualify for the bonus points.  

C5 skills bonus SOL according to sector  

The current ⁠C5 skills bonus SOL by sector were released in Mar 2023, and will apply to new and renewal EP applications up to 31 December 2024 (inclusive) 

The updated SOL, released in November 2024, will apply to new and renewal EP applications from 1 January 2025.

Here's what to expect in three sectors, with the full list available online. 

*Right-click to view images in a new tab.

Financial services 

Current 

Upcoming 

Green economy 

Current 

Upcoming 

Healthcare 

Current 

Upcoming 

Infocomm technology 

Current 

Upcoming 


Head over to our previous coverage for full details on the SOL.

For more stories on the COMPASS framework, track our full coverage here.

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