Overview of hiring activity in Singapore
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for Singapore edged down 1% month-on-month in July 2025. On a year-on-year basis, hiring was 12% lower, while the 3-month and 6-month trends were +1% and -6%, suggesting selective, efficiency-first hiring with limited expansion.
Hiring trends by industry (YoY numbers)
3 of 15 industries posted annual growth in hiring
In demand
- Hospitality & Travel (+2%) – steady visitor flows and events underpin hiring.
- Advertising/Market Research/PR/Media (+2%) – selective creative and content roles.
- Production/Manufacturing (+1%) – electronics cycle stabilising supports incremental backfills.
Stable
- Retail/Trade & Logistics (0%), Shipping/Marine (0%) – activity holding, but firms remain cost-conscious.
Facing challenges
- BFSI (-12%), IT/Telecom/BPO (-5%), Education (-7%), Import/Export (-6%), Consumer Goods (-5%), Engineering/Construction/Real Estate (-2%), Oil & Gas (-2%), Health Care (-1%), Government/PSU/Defence (-1%) — export sensitivity and budget reviews weigh on expansion.
Hiring trends by functional area (MoM numbers)
7 of 12 functions saw marginal or flat month-on-month growth in hiring
In demand/stabilising
- HR & Admin (+3%), Marketing & Communications (+2%), Customer Service (+1%) – tactical backfills as firms manage service levels.
- Sales & BD (0%), Medical roles (0%), Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (0%) – broadly steady.
Facing challenges
- Legal (-4%), IT (-2%), Engineering/Production (-2%), Finance & Accounts (-1%), Hospitality (-1%) – continued selectivity in higher-cost/headcount-sensitive roles.
About the foundit insights tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Singapore, earlier known as the Monster Employment Index, is a leading guide to the country’s e-recruitment landscape. By examining millions of job listings, fit provides timely insights into hiring activity across industries and functions.
