A third of employers raising their reliance on contract, flexi-work hires: Jobstreet survey
[SINGAPORE] Hiring confidence in Singapore has rebounded in recent times, with 42 per cent of employers planning to employ more permanent staff in the first half of 2025, based on Jobstreet by SEEK's Hiring, Compensation and Benefits 2025 report released on Tuesday (May 27).
This was a mark higher than the 32 per cent of employers who expressed confidence in a more active job market for the second half of 2024.
The increased figure was in line with Singapore's 2025 forecast gross domestic product growth of about 1 to 3 per cent.
While permanent employment is in demand, 31 per cent of employers said they are increasing their reliance on contract, part-time staff and flexi-work hires this year, up from 15 per cent in 2024.
This was primarily driven by small and medium-sized businesses, the report indicated, with their key reasons including the need to expand their business, looking for a more flexible workforce, and requiring new roles and skill sets.
The survey was conducted between September and October 2024, and received responses from 887 hirers and human resources professionals in Singapore across a range of industries such as trade and manufacturing services, engineering, and technology and data.
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In 2024, 76 per cent of companies awarded bonuses, with the average payouts remaining consistent with the previous year. Only 79 per cent of businesses implemented salary increases last year, down from 84 per cent in 2023.
Staff promotions fell to 54 per cent in 2024, compared to 59 per cent in the year before. Those promoted in 2024 also received lower compensation increases – in the 1 to 5 per cent range – as compared to those who received promotions in 2023.
On the other hand, various non-monetary perks such as flexible work arrangements, mental health days and family care gained traction among businesses to enhance quality of life and employee well-being.
Benefits such as additional paternity leave (16 per cent), family care leave (14 per cent), and maternity leave (12 per cent) gained popularity in 2024, reflecting how employers wish to better support employees' family lives.
This was in line with Singapore's enhanced parental leave policies, such as the Enhanced Government-Paid Paternity Leave and New Shared Parental Leave schemes.
Additionally, companies in Singapore these days are investing more in long-term employee career development, with plans to expand access to training or self-learning programmes (8 per cent), apprenticeship or mentoring opportunities (9 per cent), and job rotation opportunities (9 per cent) in 2025.
Top full-time permanent job functions hired in 2025
The report noted that the top three job functions for 88 per cent of companies hired in 2024 remained consistent with those in 2023.
Administration and human resources took the top spot at 36 per cent, followed by accounting at 28 per cent, then sales and business development at 23 per cent.
New entries to the top five permanent full-time job functions were that of customer service at 16 per cent, and branding and marketing at 14 per cent.
AI literacy as a 'must-have', though adoption still lags
A key qualification today for many jobs is fluency in artificial intelligence (AI), with 54 per cent of employers now considering it during hiring and candidate assessment, and nearly one in five viewing it as a primary consideration.
But despite this demand, only 15 per cent of businesses have implemented AI tools to assist with recruitment. The main barriers to adoption include the perception that AI is unnecessary in the recruitment process (51 per cent), concerns about losing the human touch and personalisation (44 per cent), and lack of knowledge or access to AI applications (40 per cent).
'Singapore's job market is entering a new chapter,' said Vic Sithasanan, managing director at Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore. 'Where salary once reigned supreme, the data shows us that employers and jobseekers are now focused on AI readiness, work-life flexibility, and meaningful career development.'
'For jobseekers, standing out means not only demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to continuous upskilling, but also displaying real-world AI skills and a willingness to embrace qualities that are now essential to thrive in Singapore's job market.'
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