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Building and Construction Authority

Quantity Surveyors Workgroup

Learn about the work of BCA's Quantity Surveyors Workgroup, which brought together industry stakeholders to strengthen the quantity surveying profession.

Last updated 4 September 2026
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Strengthening Singapore’s Quantity Surveying Profession

Quantity Surveyors (QS) play an important role across the lifecycle of Built Environment (BE) projects. Quantity surveyors are professionals who keep building projects on time, on target and on budget. They help clients make informed decisions and bring together cost, contracts and strategy, from concept to completion.

With a sustained pipeline of development projects ahead, coupled with an evolving BE landscape, the QS profession will need to transform to meet changing industry needs. This includes strengthening talent pipeline, raising professional capabilities and accelerating the adoption of technology and more productive ways of working.

To strengthen the profession and position it for the future, the Quantity Surveyors Workgroup (QS Workgroup) was formed in February 2026. The Workgroup brought together the industry, government agencies and academia to identify opportunities and co-create recommendations. The Workgroup's recommendations were announced by Second Minister for Finance and National Dvelopment, Ms Indranee Rajah, on 4 September 2026.

Leadership and composition

The Workgroup was chaired by Mr Tan Chee Kiat, BCA Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Industry Development), and brought together stakeholders across the QS profession and wider BE ecosystem.

The Workgroup comprises representatives from:

  • Public and private sector clients

  • QS consultancy firms

  • Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs)

  • Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)

  • Relevant government agencies

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Engagement with the industry

QS Workgroup Recommendations

Attract: Raise awareness on roles, value-add and career pathways

  1. Improve exposure and entry pathways into the profession by introducing new quantity surveying content in IHLs and onboarding quantity surveying firms onto the INSPIRE internship programme;

    • The Department of the Built Environment at the National University of Singapore has introduced a new specialisation in Contract Management and Cost Engineering

    • INSPIRE: Where internship count as relevant work experience and returning interns can join the same firm with higher starting salaries

  2. Rebrand the "Quantity Surveyor" title to better reflect the profession's evolving and strategic role, and resonate more strongly with students and young professionals;

  3. Reposition quantity surveyor roles and value-add, and improve awareness of career progression pathways through publicity and outreach initiatives showcasing the profession's contributions across the project lifecycle and highlighting diverse career opportunities;

  4. Clients are recommended to give recognition by highlighting exemplary quantity surveying firms which raises the profession's visibility and reinforce its value to the Built Environment sector; and

  5. Develop a Quantity Surveying Playbook to provide students and clients a clearer understanding of career pathways, professional competencies and services provided by quantity surveyors.

Develop and retain: Raise professional standing and uplift capabilities. Instill good HR practices

  1. Firms and project teams are recommended to commit to the Built Environment Culture of Appreciation, Respect and Empathy (BE CARE) Charter which encourages positive workplace practices that support employee well-being, professional development and long-term talent retention;

  2. Raise professional standing by strengthening recognition of quantity surveyor roles in construction contract forms;

  3. Firms to implement competency-based remuneration to better recognise quantity surveyors based on their competencies and responsibilities, rather than years of experience alone, which supports career progression and capability development;

  4. Accelerate the adoption of professional accreditation by encouraging wider adoption of the Accredited Professional Quantity Surveyor (APQS) scheme, or other similar schemes, to strengthen professional standards; and

  5. Support Job Redesign which will facilitate digital transformation, enabling professionals to focus on higher-value work and develop new digital skills.

Business sustainability: Strengthen viability of QS firms to support workforce development, technology adoption and productivity growth

  1. Clients to procure quantity surveying services separately from multi-disciplinary teams, where appropriate, to better recognise the profession's independent commercial role and enable firms to demonstrate their expertise and value proposition;

  2. Develop a Value Articulation Framework (VAF) for the quantity surveying profession to help firms and clients better define scope of services, support sustainable fee proposals and make more informed procurement decisions;

  3. Clarify the process for star rates assessment by providing guidance on how cost reasonableness may be established; and

  4. Clients and firms to leverage technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to improve productivity and strengthen cost assessments.

Useful links:

  1. Full Report [PDF, 22.67 MB] (opens in new tab)

  2. Infographic [PDF, 24.25 MB] (opens in new tab)

  3. INSPIRE Internship Programme (opens in new tab)

  4. INSPIRE Interest Form (opens in new tab)

  5. BE CARE Charter (opens in new tab)

Looking Forward

Achieving meaningful outcomes will require sustained collaboration across relevant government agencies, the industry and academia. By working together, we can build a resilient, respected and future-ready QS profession that continues to contribute to Singapore’s BE sector.