Overview of Hiring Activity
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for Singapore edged up 1% month-on-month in September 2025, marking its second consecutive month of marginal improvement. However, hiring remained 11% lower year-on-year, indicating that the labour market is still in a phase of cautious recovery.
The 3-month (+1%) and 6-month (+2%) trends suggest a slow but steady stabilisation as employers focus on selective additions in growth-linked sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
5 of 14 industries recorded annual growth in September
In demand
- Hospitality (+3%) – The sector continues to strengthen, supported by sustained travel inflows and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) activity.
- Production & Manufacturing (+2%) – Ongoing momentum in precision engineering and consumer-goods output drives consistent hiring.
- Advertising, Market Research, PR & Media (+1%) – Gradual rebound in marketing spend and campaign rollouts spurs creative-talent demand.
- Health Care (−1% YoY but +2% MoM) – Month-on-month gains reflect renewed investment in patient services and medical technology.
- Retail, Trade & Logistics (0% YoY but +1% MoM) – Hiring remains stable, anchored by e-commerce and cross-border trade activity.
Facing challenges
- BFSI (−13%) – The sector continues to trim headcount amid margin pressure and tighter regulatory compliance costs.
- Education (−9%) – Enrolment stagnation and curriculum realignment persist, limiting academic and administrative recruitment.
- Consumer Goods/FMCG (−5%) – Hiring softens due to subdued discretionary consumption.
- IT, Telecom/ISP & BPO/ITES (−5%) – Firms remain cautious with tech budgets, prioritising AI-led efficiency over expansion.
- Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (−1%) – Project activity remains slow despite slight monthly gains.
- Import/Export (−9%) – External trade fragility continues to weigh on new roles.
- Oil & Gas (−1%) – Energy hiring stays flat, reflecting stable production and muted exploration spend.
- Government/PSU/Defence (−3%) – Stable employment levels with limited intake.
- Others (−11%) – Smaller and niche sectors continue to contract amid macro uncertainty.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
3 of 12 functional areas posted annual growth in September
In demand
- Health Care (+4%) – The standout performer for the third month running, driven by steady investment in clinical, diagnostic, and support roles.
- Hospitality & Travel (0% YoY but +3% 3M / +6% 6M) – Sustained demand as tourism and events maintain their upward trajectory.
- Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (−1% YoY but +1% MoM) – Supply-chain resilience and regional trade integration bolster short-term hiring.
- Sales & Business Development (−7% YoY but +1% MoM) – Retail and services show early signs of revival in client-facing functions.
Facing challenges
- Software, Hardware & Telecom (−23%) – The steepest annual fall continues, with global tech realignments and automation curbing new roles.
- Finance & Accounts (−17%) – BFSI cutbacks cascade into finance and compliance functions.
- Legal (−30%) – Corporate consolidation and fewer transactions have sharply reduced demand.
- Marketing & Communications (−6%) – Spending caution keeps hiring subdued despite slight quarterly stabilisation.
- Engineering/Production (−7%) – Hiring slows as infrastructure and real-estate projects remain conservative.
- HR & Admin (−5%) – Continued consolidation of support roles.
- Customer Service (−1%) – Demand remains steady but flat, with efficiency tools limiting large-scale additions.
- Others (−9%) – Contractual and niche roles remain weak.
Why the mixed signals?
- Selective stabilisation: After a prolonged lull, employers are gradually adding roles in healthcare, hospitality, and logistics, signalling cautious optimism.
- Tech and finance retrenchment: IT and BFSI sectors remain key drags, reflecting global headwinds and structural recalibration.
- Shift toward quality hires: Hiring remains skill-centric, with companies focusing on productivity, cross-functional agility, and domain expertise rather than expansionary hiring.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Singapore, formerly the Monster Employment Index, is a leading barometer of the nation’s online recruitment activity. By analysing millions of job listings, fit offers timely intelligence on hiring trends across industries and functional areas, helping employers and jobseekers navigate Singapore’s evolving labour market.
