Overview of Hiring Activity
Singapore’s online hiring activity rose 2% month-on-month in June 2026, recovering the ground lost in May, though the index remains 4% lower year-on-year for a second consecutive month.
The near-term picture is one of stabilisation rather than recovery: hiring is up 1% over the last 3 months but still down 1% over the last 6 months. Activity has held within a narrow band since January, suggesting employers are replacing rather than expanding.
Beneath the flat headline, the market is splitting cleanly. Consumer Goods, Advertising & Media, and technology are adding roles, while banking, hospitality, education, and legal remain in structural retreat — with automation, not demand, doing much of the work.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
Four of the sectors tracked recorded annual growth, two were flat, and the remainder declined. The declines are concentrated in sectors where routine work is being absorbed by technology or where consumer-facing footfall has thinned.
In demand
Consumer Goods/FMCG cluster (+7%)
The sharpest turnaround of the month, up 8% month-on-month after holding flat for close to a year, as brands rebuild front-line and supply-side teams on the back of returning retail sales.
Advertising, Market Research, PR, Media & Entertainment (+7%)
The most consistent performer of the past year, with digital and social spend sustaining demand for creative, campaign, and martech roles.
IT, Telecom/ISP & BPO/ITES (+2%)
Growth is narrow and concentrated in specialist AI, cloud, and cybersecurity roles rather than in volume hiring.
Oil & Gas (+1%)
A marginal gain, supported by steady energy-sector maintenance and project work.
Government/PSU/Defence (0%) and Shipping/Marine (0%)
Both returned to neutral after marginal declines in May, indicating stable operations and replacement-level recruitment.
Facing challenges
Others (−21%)
Broad-based moderation across smaller and mixed verticals is driving the steepest decline.
BFSI (−13%)
The steepest fall among named sectors for a second month, and the trend is worsening (−8% over 6M). Major banks are cutting routine headcount as AI and offshoring absorb the work.
Hospitality (−10%)
Down 6% over the past six months. Visitor arrivals have softened, and mid-market hotels and restaurants are staffing to actual occupancy.
Education (−9%)
Sustained expenditure pressure continues to suppress hiring across the sector.
Retail/Trade & Logistics (−8%)
Retail and F&B closures have accelerated in prime districts, and the 3-month reading (−3%) shows no sign of a floor.
Health Care (−6%)
Cost discipline continues to weigh, though the sector was marginally positive month-on-month.
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (−5%)
Project pipelines are thinning and replacement-only budgets are taking hold, despite a modest 2% gain over six months.
Import/Export (−1%) and Production/Manufacturing, Automotive & Ancillary (−1%)
Token declines, still weighed down by soft global trade and tariff uncertainty, with both flat to slightly positive in the short term.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
Occupation-level trends are sharply divided. Customer-facing and creative functions are holding up; anything automatable is receding.
In demand
Marketing & Communications (+5%)
The strongest function, gaining 2% over the month and mirroring the strength of the advertising and media industry.
Customer Service (+2%)
Up 3% month-on-month and 3% over three months, with steady requirements across service desks and operations support.
Sales & Business Development (−1% YoY, but +8% MoM and +5% over 6M)
Close to breaking even after its strongest single-month gain in over a year — an early sign that commercial teams are being rebuilt.
Software, Hardware, Telecom (−1%)
Marginally negative despite the industry growing, as tech hiring narrows to specialist roles rather than headcount.
Facing challenges
Legal (−16%)
The steepest functional decline, and structural rather than cyclical. Firms are leaning on outside counsel and running leaner in-house teams instead of adding permanent lawyers.
Hospitality & Travel (−12%)
Down 7% over six months, mirroring the tourism slowdown at industry level.
Finance & Accounts (−7%)
Automation of routine accounting and reporting work continues to suppress hiring.
HR & Admin (−6%)
Organisations are maintaining leaner structures, with the six-month trend (−5%) confirming the direction.
Others (−4%)
Broad moderation continues across miscellaneous roles.
Engineering/Production (−3%), Health Care (−3%), and Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (−3%)
All easing in line with their respective industries, though engineering was up 2% over the month.
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.
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