{"id":50899,"date":"2026-04-23T10:57:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/?p=50899"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:27:09","slug":"foundit-insights-tracker-singapore-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/foundit-insights-tracker-singapore-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore&#8217;s Hiring Landscape in March 2026:\u00a0foundit\u00a0Insights Tracker\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Overview of Hiring Activity<\/strong>&nbsp;<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Singapore&rsquo;s online hiring activity remained under pressure in March 2026, with the&nbsp;foundit&nbsp;Insights Tracker declining 5% year-on-year. While the rate of contraction has eased from February&rsquo;s &minus;9%, the broader trend continues to reflect sustained employer caution &mdash; hiring is down 1% over the last 3 months and 2% over the last 6 months &mdash; as companies maintain disciplined headcount management and&nbsp;prioritise&nbsp;replacement and selective hiring over net additions.<\/p><div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file aligncenter\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fit_SG_-March-26-2.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of &lt;strong&gt;Singapore Hiring Trends in March 2026&lt;\/strong&gt;&nbsp;.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-024f4312-9789-4fa8-a8ce-494a525c4673\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fit_SG_-March-26-2.pdf\"><strong>Singapore Hiring Trends in March 2026<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fit_SG_-March-26-2.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-024f4312-9789-4fa8-a8ce-494a525c4673\">Download<\/a><\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3 of the 15 industries tracked recorded year-on-year growth in March 2026, with 3 others holding flat; the remaining 9 recorded declines.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The industry-level picture&nbsp;remains&nbsp;broadly negative, though the pace of annual contraction has&nbsp;eased&nbsp;and Advertising has turned strongly positive. Several sectors that were declining in February are now flat.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In demand<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/advertising-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Advertising<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>, Market Research, PR, Media &amp; Entertainment (+13%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A standout reversal. Accelerating corporate&nbsp;spend&nbsp;on digital marketing and performance media has driven a sharp turnaround in hiring across creative, content, and campaign functions.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IT, Telecom\/ISP &amp; BPO\/ITES (+2%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A return to marginal positive territory, with selective digital infrastructure and tech-led hiring more than offsetting ongoing efficiency-driven&nbsp;rationalisation&nbsp;in BPO and shared services.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Production\/Manufacturing, Automotive &amp; Ancillary (+1%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Flat to marginal gains as stable demand for precision manufacturing roles sustains minimal but&nbsp;positive growth.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Holding steady<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Engineering, Construction &amp; Real Estate (0%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Niche project activity and maintenance hiring are preventing further decline, with the sector recovering from negative territory in prior months.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shipping\/Marine (0%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Stable trade route activity and steady operational requirements sustain flat hiring at maintenance levels.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Oil &amp; Gas (0%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Capital discipline and measured upstream activity keep hiring at maintenance levels, neither growing nor contracting.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Facing challenges<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Government\/PSU\/Defence&nbsp;(&minus;1%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Modest softness reflecting cautious public sector budget deployment.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Retail\/Trade &amp; Logistics (&minus;1%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Weak consumption and efficiency-led cost control in consumer-facing formats sustain the marginal decline.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Health Care (&minus;3%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A slight decline despite stable healthcare demand,&nbsp;likely driven&nbsp;by cost&nbsp;rationalisation&nbsp;and slower replacement cycles.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Consumer Goods\/FMCG (&minus;3%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Muted consumer demand and margin pressure continue to limit new hiring across this segment.<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Import\/Export (&minus;4%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Softer global trade volumes and cautious expansion by trading firms continue to weigh on hiring.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hospitality (&minus;5%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Operators&nbsp;remain&nbsp;focused on leaner staffing models and cost control as post-pandemic demand&nbsp;stabilises.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/bfsi-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BFSI<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>(&minus;9%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Banks and financial institutions continue to focus on automation and productivity rather than net headcount growth, sustaining a meaningful annual pullback.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Education (&minus;13%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A significant annual decline driven by lower enrolments, budget tightening, and consolidation across institutions and training providers.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Others (&minus;21%)<\/strong>&nbsp;The steepest industry decline, with broad-based contraction continuing across smaller and mixed verticals.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5 out of 12 functional areas recorded positive annual growth in March 2026. Software and marketing functions lead, while Legal remains under the most severe pressure of any category.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In demand<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Software, Hardware &amp; Telecom (+5%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A return to&nbsp;positive growth, with selective investment in digital systems, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise technology driving steady demand for tech talent.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/marketing-communications-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marketing &amp; Communications<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong>(+5%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Stable demand for digital marketing and customer engagement roles keeps this function in positive territory, consistent with the broader advertising sector&rsquo;s&nbsp;strong performance.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Engineering\/Production (+3%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Marginal positive momentum, supported by niche manufacturing and infrastructure maintenance requirements.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/health-care-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Health Care<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>(+2%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Demand for clinical and allied health roles&nbsp;remains&nbsp;supported by population ageing and sustained healthcare&nbsp;utilisation.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sales &amp; Business Development (+2%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A notable reversal from negative territory, with some firms beginning to cautiously add frontline commercial capacity.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Facing challenges<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Customer Service (&minus;1%)<\/strong>&nbsp;A reversal from positive territory, as efficiency mandates and AI-led support tools soften demand for traditional support roles.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Purchase\/Logistics\/Supply Chain (&minus;1%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Near-flat but directionally negative, reflecting stable but non-expansionary operational demand.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/finance-accounts-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finance &amp; Accounts<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> (&minus;3%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Automation and shared services models continue to reduce incremental hiring across finance functions.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HR &amp; Admin (&minus;5%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Firms continue to limit back-office expansion as cost discipline persists.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Others (&minus;5%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Broad softness across miscellaneous functional categories.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hospitality &amp; Travel (&minus;9%)<\/strong>&nbsp;Cautious consumer demand and efficiency-led staffing models continue to soften hiring across this function.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/search\/legal-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Legal&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> (&minus;20%)<\/strong>&nbsp;The sharpest annual decline across all functions, as companies reduce in-house legal&nbsp;headcount&nbsp;and rely more on external counsel amid sustained cost pressure.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About the&nbsp;foundit&nbsp;Insights Tracker<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;foundit&nbsp;Insights Tracker (fit) Singapore (formerly the Monster Employment Index) is a monthly benchmark of online hiring activity across the nation. By&nbsp;analysing&nbsp;millions of job postings, fit provides&nbsp;timely, data-led intelligence on recruitment trends across industries, occupations, and skill categories, helping&nbsp;organisations&nbsp;and talent navigate an evolving&nbsp;labour&nbsp;market.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview of Hiring Activity&nbsp;Singapore&rsquo;s online hiring activity remained under pressure in March 2026, with the&nbsp;foundit&nbsp;Insights Tracker declining 5% year-on-year. While the rate of contraction has eased from February&rsquo;s &minus;9%, the broader trend continues to reflect sustained employer caution &mdash; hiring is down 1% over the last 3 months and 2% over the last 6 months &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/foundit-insights-tracker-singapore-march-2026\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Singapore&#8217;s Hiring Landscape in March 2026:\u00a0foundit\u00a0Insights Tracker\u00a0<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights-tracker"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50899"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50941,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50899\/revisions\/50941"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}