Baby Boom In Singapore Essay

Between 1947 and 1964, or after the Second World War, there was a baby-boom. About 1,105,820 people were born during that time. (World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Baby Boom Generation in Singapore and Its Impact on Ageing, 2014) The first batch of “babies” has already entered the age of 65 years old, inevitably threating to flip the population pyramid on its head. Therefore, there is a need now to compensate for the increase in elderly, by trying to increase the population growth of Singapore.

But before we go any further, let’s first look at how an increase in growth rate would affect Singapore.

The first prominent advantage is, Singapore’s economy would boom. All our industries are reliant on manpower, be it service

But I believe it’s deeper than that. It is the Singapore culture that prohibits the increase in population. We have a macho culture, whereby man are expected to be the ‘bread winners’. Their self-worth is sole based on their career, hence prioritizing work first. Furthermore, a “filial piety” notion is embedded in our culture. We are expected to take care of our elders even before we start thinking about family. Thus, this leads the generation to push back on having a family. (Quora, why is the birth rate so low in Singapore, 2014)

So how would an Aging population affect Singapore?

Firstly, those working would have to pay higher taxes as there are less people within the workforce. This would also increase the pressure of the working class who already has to support their elderlies.

Secondly, there will be a shortage of workers. Companies who need people desperately looks for alternatives like foreign works. There are currently 63,900 vacancies within Singapore that needs to be filled but the current locals aren’t able to reach this demand. (Singapore Press Holdings, Shortage of skilled staff in some sectors with 63,900 vacancies in June,