The C4 criterion measures your employer’s local PMET share relative to its sector and awards 0, 10, or 20 points. Local PMETs are Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in Professional, Manager, Executive, or Technician roles. The criterion is a firm-level attribute; you cannot change it directly, but it forms one of four foundational pillars that determine whether an Employment Pass application reaches the 40-point pass mark.
How C4 Points Are Awarded
If your employer has fewer than 25 PMETs, the application receives 10 points by default. If the employer has 25 or more PMETs, points depend on where the firm’s local PMET share sits within its sector percentile distribution. The 50th percentile and above earns 20 points. The 20th to less than 50th percentile earns 10 points. Below the 20th percentile earns 0 points. A local PMET share of at least 70% — pegged to the 20th percentile economy-wide — guarantees at least 10 points regardless of sector standing.
Checking Your Employer’s C4 Score
Employers can view their sector classification and local PMET share using the Workforce Insights tool on the myMOM Portal. The tool shows the firm’s current percentile band for C4. You should ask the hiring firm for its projected C4 score before accepting an offer. The Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) also reflects C4 points once the employer’s workforce profile is loaded.
Impact on the 40-Point Pass Mark
COMPASS requires 40 points across C1 (Salary), C2 (Qualifications), C3 (Diversity), and C4 (Support for Local Employment), plus any bonus points from C5 (Skills) or C6 (Strategic Economic Priorities). A C4 score of 0 creates a 20-point deficit relative to the maximum foundational score. An applicant can still pass if other criteria are strong — for example, 20 points from C1 (90th percentile salary), 20 points from C2 (top-tier degree), and 10 points from C5 (Shortage Occupation List bonus) totals 50 points. Most applicants do not max out both C1 and C2. A typical candidate with 10 points each on C1, C2, and C3 needs at least 10 points from C4 or a bonus criterion to reach 40.
What the Official Sources Do Not Specify
The Ministry of Manpower does not publish sub-sector median percentages, SSIC code mappings, or the exact headcount formula used to compute local PMET share. It does not disclose how often percentile thresholds are recalibrated. It does not define “full-time equivalent” proration rules for part-time staff in the C4 context. Any article quoting specific 2026 sector medians (e.g., 55% for infocomm, 65% for financial services) is citing figures not found on the official MOM eligibility page.
Practical Steps for EP Applicants
Ask the employer to run the Workforce Insights tool and share the C4 percentile band. Confirm whether the firm has fewer than 25 PMETs — if so, C4 is 10 points by default. If the firm is near a percentile boundary, understand that headcount changes between application and processing can shift the score. Do not rely on forward-looking hiring commitments; MOM uses actual headcount at the time of application. If C4 is 0, verify that the combined C1, C2, C3, and bonus points can still reach 40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Permanent Residents count as local for C4?
A: Yes. The C4 definition of “local” includes both Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in PMET roles.
Q: Can a firm use a letter of intent to hire locals for C4 scoring?
A: No. MOM relies on actual headcount at the time of the EP application. Forward-looking commitments are not factored into the C4 score.
Q: How often does MOM update the sector percentile thresholds?
A: The official eligibility page does not state a fixed schedule. Employers should check the Workforce Insights tool for the most current data before filing.
Q: If my employer has fewer than 25 PMETs, is C4 always 10 points?
A: Yes. The default 10 points applies regardless of the local PMET share when the firm has fewer than 25 PMETs.
Q: Does a 70% local PMET share guarantee 20 points?
A: No. It guarantees at least 10 points. The firm could still score 20 points if its share also reaches the 50th percentile within its sector.
