The C3 Diversity criterion is one of four foundational criteria in the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). It awards points based on the share of the candidate’s nationality among the organisation’s Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs). The criterion does not use a binary pass-or-fail threshold; it operates on a three-tier scale. Applications need a total of 40 points across all COMPASS criteria to pass.
How C3 Diversity Points Are Awarded
If your organisation employs fewer than 25 PMETs, the application receives 10 points by default for C3 Diversity.
If your organisation employs at least 25 PMETs, points depend on the candidate’s nationality share among those PMETs:
| Share of candidate’s nationality among organisation’s PMETs | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 5% | 20 |
| 5% to less than 25% | 10 |
| 25% or more | 0 |
The nationality of each employee (including Permanent Residents) is taken from the passport nationality recorded in Singapore Government systems. PMETs are counted according to the same methodology used for the C4 Support for Local Employment criterion. The official FAQ explains how PMETs are counted and how the nationality share is calculated.
Small Firms Receive a Default Score
Organisations with fewer than 25 PMETs do not need to calculate a nationality share. The 10-point default applies regardless of the candidate’s nationality. This default also applies to the C4 Support for Local Employment criterion for the same firms.
Checking Your Organisation’s Profile
Employers can use the Workforce Insights tool on the myMOM Portal to view:
- The organisation’s sector classification
- The share of each nationality among the organisation’s PMETs (C3 input)
- The organisation’s local PMET share relative to its sector (C4 input)
The tool draws on MOM survey data and the organisation’s declared workforce profile. It is updated periodically; the FAQ states the workforce profile is updated regularly but does not specify a fixed quarterly schedule.
C3 Diversity in the Context of the Full COMPASS Score
C3 Diversity is one of six criteria. The four foundational criteria (C1 Salary, C2 Qualifications, C3 Diversity, C4 Support for Local Employment) each contribute up to 20 points. Two bonus criteria (C5 Skills Bonus for Shortage Occupation List roles, C6 Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus) can add up to 20 and 10 points respectively. A candidate who scores 0 on C3 can still pass COMPASS by earning sufficient points from other criteria. The official case studies illustrate several combinations that reach the 40-point pass mark.
Exemptions from COMPASS
Candidates are exempted from the entire COMPASS framework (including C3) if they meet any of the following:
- Fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500
- Applying as an overseas intra-corporate transferee
- Filling the role for one month or less
What the Official Sources Do Not Publish
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not publish:
- EP approval or rejection rates broken down by C3 Diversity score
- Statistics on the share of applicants from any nationality who score 0 on C3
- Median processing times or appeal success rates linked to C3
- Sector-level concentration ratios or their correlation with EP outcomes
- Any “annual report” figures on C3 Diversity failures
Any article that cites such percentages, multiples, or year-over-year changes is not drawing from MOM’s published materials.
Practical Steps for Employers and Candidates
- Confirm the organisation’s PMET count. If it is below 25, C3 defaults to 10 points.
- If PMETs ≥ 25, use the Workforce Insights tool to check the candidate’s nationality share.
- Verify the nationality data against the passport records MOM holds.
- Model the total COMPASS score using the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) before submitting the application.
- If the share is 25% or above, consider whether other criteria (higher salary percentile, top-tier qualification, SOL bonus, SEP bonus) can supply the missing points to reach 40.
Official References
- Eligibility for Employment Pass – COMPASS C3 Diversity
- How are PMETs counted under the Diversity (C3) and Support for Local Employment (C4) criteria for COMPASS?
- How does COMPASS calculate my candidate’s nationality/citizenship share among my organisation’s PMETs?
- Workforce Insights tool on myMOM Portal
- Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)
- COMPASS guidebook (PDF)
- Key facts on Employment Pass