Overview of Hiring Activity
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for Singapore remained flat month-on-month in August 2025, indicating a pause after modest gains earlier in the year.
The index was down 6% year-on-year, with both the 3-month (-1%) and 6-month (-1%) trends signalling subdued momentum.
Employers continue to adopt a measured approach, balancing hiring needs with cost prudence amid global demand uncertainty.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
Only 4 of 14 industries recorded annual growth in August.
In demand
- Hospitality (+4%) – The travel and leisure rebound remains steady, sustaining openings in hotels, dining, and event services.
- Production/Manufacturing (+3%) – Incremental recovery continues as electronics and consumer-goods segments stabilise output.\
- Retail/Trade & Logistics (+2%) – Trade activity and e-commerce fulfilment are holding firm despite patchy retail sentiment.
- Oil & Gas (-1% YoY but +1% MoM) – Maintenance and energy-transition projects supported modest short-term hiring.
Facing challenges
- BFSI (-13%) – Banks and insurers continue rationalising headcount as loan growth moderates and cost controls tighten.
- Education (-7%) – Weak enrolment and curriculum realignments weigh on demand for teaching and administrative staff.
- IT, Telecom & BPO (-4%) – Hiring remains selective, with employers prioritising automation and efficiency gains.
- Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (-2%) – Slower project approvals and housing-market caution dampen new additions.
- Health Care (-2%) – Sector growth plateaus after earlier expansion driven by digital-health investments.
- Consumer Goods/FMCG (-5%) – Spending restraint and inventory caution limit workforce expansion.
- Import/Export (-6%) – External trade weakness continues to pressure hiring.
- Government/PSU/Defence (-1%) – Largely steady employment levels with limited fresh intake.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
4 of 12 occupational groups posted annual growth in August.
In demand
- Health Care (+4%) – Strongest growth across functions, reflecting continued investment in clinical and allied roles.
- Hospitality & Travel (+1%) – Ongoing tourism recovery fuels frontline and service-staff demand.
- Customer Service (+1%) – Hiring remains resilient, supported by retail, logistics, and travel sectors.
- HR & Admin (-1% YoY but +3% MoM) – Month-on-month uptick suggests renewed workforce-planning activity.
Facing challenges
- Software, Hardware & Telecom (-19%) – Deepest contraction amid project slowdowns and AI-led automation.
- Legal (-23%) – Ongoing consolidation in advisory and corporate-services roles.
- Sales & Business Development (-4%) – Sluggish consumer and enterprise spending limits expansion.
- Marketing & Communications (-5%) – Budget restraint tempers new marketing hires.
- Engineering/Production (-4%) – Hiring cools in tandem with construction and manufacturing moderation.
Why the mixed signals?
- Global softness: Weak external demand and cautious export sentiment are weighing on Singapore’s hiring appetite.
- Selective growth: Hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing show modest gains as domestic consumption stabilises.
- Efficiency over expansion: Employers are focusing on productivity, upskilling, and role consolidation rather than headcount increases.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Singapore, formerly the Monster Employment Index, is a leading gauge of the nation’s e-recruitment activity. By analysing millions of online job postings, fit provides timely intelligence on hiring trends across industries and occupations.
