The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore collected $97.3 billion in tax revenue for the financial year 2025/2026, marking the highest collection on record according to data dating back to 2002. ^[1] Vietnam needs at least 50,000 university-level semiconductor professionals by 2030 to participate deeply in the global supply chain. ^[2] Danny Loong, president of the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), stated on September 3 that the nightlife sector in Singapore is struggling and requires adjustment to new realities. ^[3] Lim Chai Leng, general manager at Randstad Singapore, said the biggest gap is a shortage of 'hybrid' or 'bilingual' professionals who combine technology and finance skills, while the market has plenty of developers and financial and regulatory experts. ^[4] Market players and observers also said the need for multidisciplinary professionals is becoming more pressing because artificial intelligence is now more widely adopted in the highly regulated financial services industry. ^[5] Market players and observers in Singapore flagged a persistent challenge for the fintech sector: a shortage of experienced professionals who have expertise in both technology and finance. ^[6] Corporate income tax was the largest source of revenue, rising to $34.4 billion from $30.9 billion in the previous financial year and accounting for 35.4% of total collection. ^[7] Goods and services tax was the second-largest contributor at 22.3%, bringing in $21.7 billion, an increase from $20 billion previously. ^[8] Total tax revenue increased by 9.4% from the previous financial year, driven by stronger economic activity and consumer spending. ^[9] Professor Nguyen Huu Hieu, Rector of the University of Danang, stated that the shortage involves both quantity and quality, specifically lacking staff capable of managing the full value chain from design to testing. ^[10] Professor Tran Dai Lam, Director of the Institute of Materials Science, noted that the biggest challenge is the lack of internationally qualified lecturers to lead the field. ^[11] Public university professors in Vietnam earn between 500 and 800 USD per month, significantly lower than the 7,000 USD in Singapore, 5,000 USD in South Korea, or 12,000 USD in the United States. ^[12]