Overview of Hiring Activity
Singapore’s online hiring activity remained flat month-on-month in January 2026, with the foundit Insights Tracker index holding at 94. While the near-term 3-month trend shows a marginal 1% uptick — driven by replacement hiring and steady demand in financial services, healthcare, and construction — the broader picture remains soft, with hiring down 3% over six months and 6% year-on-year.
The annual decline reflects sustained employer caution through 2025, as companies pulled back from broad-based expansion in favour of selective, replacement, and contract hiring amid weaker global growth visibility, margin pressure, and tighter workforce planning.
Beneath the headline, the market remains split: Advertising & Media leads industry growth, Technology and Healthcare functions are outperforming annually, while Legal, Real Estate, and Sales roles face the sharpest declines.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
10 of the 15 industry sectors monitored by the tracker recorded positive or flat hiring activity year-on-year, though the gains are largely concentrated rather than broad-based.
In demand
Advertising, Market Research, PR, Media & Entertainment (+8%) The strongest-performing industry year-on-year, sustained by digital marketing investments, performance media, and content hiring as firms continue to drive brand demand.
Production/Manufacturing, Automotive & Ancillary (+2%) Steady industrial output and demand for precision and advanced manufacturing roles are supporting modest growth.
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+1%) Marginal positive growth reflects ongoing infrastructure activity, data centre projects, and selective real estate development.
IT, Telecom/ISP & BPO/ITES (+1%) Selective hiring in digital and infrastructure roles is keeping this sector in positive territory.
Facing challenges
Education (−10%) A significant annual decline, driven by lower enrolments, budget tightening, and consolidation across institutions and training providers.
Import/Export (−4%) Softer global trade volumes and cautious expansion by trading firms continue to weigh on hiring.
Consumer Goods/FMCG cluster (−3%) Muted consumer demand and margin pressure are limiting new hiring across this segment.
Retail/Trade & Logistics (−1%) A slight dip reflecting weak consumption and efficiency-led cost control in consumer-facing formats.
Others (−15%) The steepest industry decline, with broad-based contraction across smaller and mixed verticals.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
4 out of 13 job functions recorded positive annual growth in January 2026, with Technology and Healthcare leading, while Legal remains under severe pressure.
In demand
Health Care (+5%) Demand for clinical, allied health, and care delivery roles remains strong, driven by population ageing and sustained healthcare utilisation.
Software, Hardware & Telecom (+4%) Continued demand for digital, cloud, cybersecurity, and network roles is sustaining growth despite overall hiring caution.
Marketing & Communications (+1%) Stable demand for digital marketing, performance campaigns, and customer engagement roles is keeping this function in modest positive territory.
Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (0%) Flat but steady, supported by non-expansionary but consistent operational needs.
Facing challenges
Legal (−30%) The sharpest annual decline across all functions, as companies reduced non-core hiring, consolidated in-house legal teams, and relied more on external counsel amid cost pressure.
Sales & Business Development (−7%) Firms have paused sales force expansion, focusing instead on productivity and retention over growth.
Finance & Accounts (−6%) Automation and cost controls continue to reduce incremental hiring across finance functions.
Customer Service (−5%) and Hospitality Roles (−5%) Both functions softened due to cautious consumer demand and efficiency-led staffing models.
Engineering/Production (−3%) Reflects selective hiring outside niche manufacturing sub-sectors.
HR & Admin (−2%) Firms continue to limit back-office expansion as cost discipline persists.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Singapore (formerly the Monster Employment Index) is a monthly benchmark of online hiring activity across the nation. By analysing millions of job postings, fit provides timely, data-led intelligence on recruitment trends across industries, occupations, and skill categories, helping organisations and talent navigate an evolving labour market.
