Singapore job market sees disparity in remote work outlook
SINGAPORE CITY, SINGAPORE — A report by job search platform Indeed highlighted a growing disparity between Singapore’s jobseekers and employers regarding remote work.
According to Indeed, jobseekers remain interested in flexible work options, with one in every 28 searches on the platform using remote work-related keywords.
However, job postings in Singapore referencing remote work or work-from-home options accounted for only 6.6% in May 2023.
Indeed APAC Senior Economist Callam Pickering noted this disconnect between employers and job seekers could impact some companies’ ability to attract suitable candidates.
Despite the interest in remote roles, the number of job postings on Indeed decreased by 1.2% compared to the previous month, marking a seventh consecutive monthly decline and a 16.5% year-on-year drop.
Pickering attributes this decline in job postings to the contraction of Singapore’s economy in the first quarter. Singapore’s unemployment rate is 1.8%, with a high chance of increasing over the next months.
While postings have fallen significantly over the past year, job postings for every occupational category are still above pre-pandemic levels.
“Singapore’s labor market is still incredibly tight with strong demand for workers and low unemployment,” Pickering noted.
“Nevertheless, job posting volumes continue to decline, down for seven consecutive months. A more challenging economic environment, including a global slowdown, will likely lead to a further decline in job postings over the remainder of the year.”
