The job market in Singapore is getting ready to flourish in 2024. While not every sector is looking up, there is a rising return to normalcy as the world adjusts to the changes thrust upon it. With that being said, it’s the perfect time to look at some job search tips for 2024 and study the hiring trends in Singapore!
While there will still be struggles, there are also opportunities in the new job market. There are companies frantically hiring even as they struggle to stay afloat. We did the research to bring you the top hiring trends in Singapore and some useful job search tips to help job seekers find employment in 2024. You will see some general trends that apply across all industries.
Whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time employment opportunity, the companies that are hiring right now may not be looking for the same things. As such, this article may be better able to equip you with some of the essential info you need to succeed in your job hunt process 🙂
Singapore Opens Up
Singapore is one of the companies that has been the quickest to recover. On December 28, 2020, the country went into phase three of reopening. This helped expand what is allowed as far as public gatherings and human interaction. Thus, increasing options for job seekers in the coming year.
The switch to phase three came about because the country was able to strictly adhere to safe management measures. The country increased its capacity to test and track citizens, moving up to 50,000 per day. By adopting TraceTogether, authorities are able to more closely track individual infections and identify possible spreaders. With 70% of the population using this service, the effectiveness of the service has been greatly increased.
This reopening has made it possible to have gatherings with up to 8 persons at a time. Venues are able to increase their operating capacities. Indoor events and church services are now able to have up to 250 people attend their events. Migrant workers are seeing restrictions relax, and they are accessing recreational activities thanks to better safety measures.
With all these changes taking place, what do the hiring trends in Singapore have to add to the list of job search tips in 2024?
Let’s find out 🙂
What are the top hiring trends in Singapore in 2024?
While there will be a growing trend this year to move back towards to what we would consider normal, not everything will adjust as quickly and at once. There have also been adjustments that companies made that have turned out so well, firms plan to keep them going forward.
While many complain about the drastic changes the last year has seen, most of them weren’t changes that wouldn’t have happened in the long run regardless. The direction industries were headed towards hasn’t shifted, but has accelerated. Going digital has been a trend for years now, the pandemic simply forced their hand. The result of this is that more of our world will stay online for the long haul.
As such, amongst the list of job search tips in 2024, we would recommend each individual to equip themselves with relevant technological knowledge. With digital advancements being made, employers and hiring managers would want to hire those who can help ease the process of business for them.
In order to achieve that, one may wish to attend courses and workshops that can boost one’s knowledge and specific skills related to the matter.
Expect automation & virtual interviews
What’s one of the other hiring trends in Singapore? The recruitment process will continue to be more hands-off for the first few rounds of applying for the job. Automation is helping firms to sift through larger numbers of applicants and find the best applicants to bring in for interviewing. Some of the tools that have become common are applicant tracking systems, and chatbots to answer questions and streamline the process. This is technology that we have tapped into here at GrabJobs as well!
This mindset is also becoming more common in the interview process as well. Companies are using pre-recorded interviews to screen candidates. AI may even be responsible for reviewing these applications soon. These bots focus on finding relevant keywords to help find the best candidates for the job. This means that optimising your resume and cover letter for the specific application will become increasingly important.
You can take advantage of this by tailoring your application to help yourself stand out. You can prep for general questions and have great answers ready for questions from the company. Talk about yourself, why you want the position, and why you are a good fit.
Once you get past the first round, virtual interviews will still continue to be a part of the process. Even as the pandemic lessens its hold on us, the convenience of this process will still make it useful for recruiters. All of these are great and useful job search tips in 2024.
Despite the ease with which we can interview people online, it is still not enjoyed by either party. Automated and virtual processes will likely be what get you to this point, but it will be that in-person touch that will decide whether you will get the job or not. That’s one popular hiring trend in Singapore.
Work will remain remote
Managers have had to admit that many employees are just as effective at their jobs remotely as they are working in the office. Many employers are having a hard time justifying the rent of large office spaces. As such, remote working is yet another one of the popular hiring trends in Singapore.
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be any office time for employees, but that employers are becoming more flexible in how they address work. The roles that require working on-site will return to their workplace. Full-time remote positions will also become available and flexible schedules will become more standardised.
This flexibility allows you to broaden your job search. Without having to emphasise the commute as much, you will be able to more diverse positions. Applying for jobs all across Singapore will be a more appealing option as well. It follows that demonstrating that you are someone who has the organization and communication skills necessary to work from home is also important.
Weigh your factors when job hunting! Tap on the above-mentioned job search tips for 2024 and hiring trends in Singapore to make a decision that best suits your needs.
Higher Competition
Unemployment is still a problem, and there are only so many employees who can work remotely. Because of this, there are more people looking for the same jobs. More than ever before, higher competition for jobs is yet another one of the popular hiring trends in Singapore.
When applying for a job, be sure to secure all of your easy wins. Have your resume polished, your cover letter written and optimised for the position. Update any relevant online profiles like LinkedIn and your portfolio. In a competitive market, even small changes will be crucial in making the difference for getting hired.
Even though it may be tempting, don’t spam apply to every job you see. Only apply to those that are relevant to you. Take the time to fill that application out thoughtfully. Spend some time thinking up ways to stand out. Write an article, get your own personal website, or do a few pro-bono gigs to beef up your resume.
If you aren’t getting any traction, use this as a time to upgrade your skillset. Find some relevant skills in your industry that will make you more valuable to employers. Make sure that you are keeping up with the skills you have too so that you will be just as sharp when you start work as when you left.
Those are some of the top recommended job search tips for 2024 and hiring trends in Singapore.
Regular monitoring
Companies have traditionally had large hiring increases at the beginning of the year and in the fall, while summer and winter were slower. Companies in stronger sectors may still be following this hiring trend in Singapore as they continue to expand, but those that are struggling won’t be.
In Singapore, 20% of companies plan to hire employees in the first quarter of 2024. Singapore is seeing one of the brightest outlooks for recovery. However, the return to pre-COVID levels of employment isn’t expected to happen for some time. The majority of experts are unsure when or even if this will happen.
Things should go back to normal soon as vaccines have been administered to 85% of the population. A figure necessary to gain herd immunity. Once restrictions are completely lifted, recovery for industries like hospitality and restaurants will be in full swing.
Your best bet is to keep a keen eye on the companies you are interested in applying to work for. Keeping track of who is hiring will give you a better idea of what is happening and allow you to adjust your efforts. In the short term, this may include opening up the range of jobs that you are open to, branching out to new industries, or considering more freelance opportunities to tide you over.
As such, regular monitoring and keeping an open mind are some of the best job search tips in 2024 too.
What are the top industries hiring for Full-Time Positions in Singapore this year?
While the last year was devastating for industries like hospitality and foodservice, others have flourished. There are several industries that are hiring folks as fast as they can and will continue to do so throughout the year.
To help the country recover, the government had committed to creating 100,000 jobs in 2021. The SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package plans to help offset the pandemic and help every citizen who wants a job get one. These jobs that are being created are skewed towards, healthcare, early childhood education, IT, finance, and transport. They are planning to add 15,000 jobs in healthcare and education and helping to jumpstart 25,000 traineeships in different industries.
Healthcare
This is to be expected. The pandemic has meant an immediate demand for healthcare professionals and a deeper appreciation for these services. Our society is becoming more conscious of their health and reliant on technology. Health tech companies are popping up that are helping to provide virtual services and frontline care. As the economy recovers, you will see more preventative care jobs open back up. This demand is also heavily supported by the government incentives that will be in place this year.
Browse Healthcare Jobs on GrabJobs
Banking & Finance
Ironically, banks and the companies that service them are having great success. This has pushed financial institutions towards online banking hard. Jobs that service this online banking will continue to pop up for the foreseeable future. The average monthly banking salary is 9,190 Singapore dollars.
Browse Banking Jobs on GrabJobs
Education
With 15,000 jobs being added to help hire educators. These educators will also have a chance to have steady careers helping the future of Singapore improve. Teachers on average earn an equivalent salary of $42,000 USD.
Browse Teaching Jobs on GrabJobs
Computing & IT
Tech companies have always been at the forefront of digital adoption, and many of them soared in value during this crisis. They never relied on physical storefronts, and have the easiest time allowing employees to work from home. The average monthly salary for IT jobs is 8,480 Singapore dollars.
Browse IT Jobs on GrabJobs
Insurance
Insurance is a steady reliable sector that has seen remarkable growth in the last year. These companies are able to leverage the past year’s events to demonstrate the need for their services. Homes and families are finding it increasingly important to prepare for the worst.
Browse Insurance Jobs on GrabJobs
What are the top industries hiring for Part-Time and Contract Positions in Singapore this year?
Temp work offers the chance to see a variety of industries and acquire valuable skills to improve your career. It’s a valuable short term remedy to your employment woes, and it helps bolster your resume when you approach employers. It can show that you are willing to get your hands dirty, or are enthusiastic about being part of the industry in any capacity.
When you are looking for these temporary opportunities, it’s important to be aware of what you are looking for. You need to know if your goal is just to have the position while looking for more stable work, or if you want the chance to regularly change the scenery.
Whatever you decide is best for you, clearly communicate this to your employer. Finding the right fit will include finding aligning interests with the length of the employment. A hiring manager who is looking to fill a temp to hire position will be looking for a different candidate than those who are only planning on having the employee for a few months. By being upfront about what you want, you will be seen as a better candidate when that type of opportunity comes up.
Construction
This industry has the strongest job outlook, with a 26% increase according to a ManpowerGroup survey. It is quick to hire workers for big projects that can last months or years and keep them on until the job is completed. Helping add to infrastructure is also critical according to the government. Many of the skilled trades involved in construction will also be the beneficiaries of many of the 25,000 traineeships.
Browse Construction Jobs on GrabJobs
Services
The services sector is expected to increase its hiring by 18% this year. The discipline involves a wide array of professionals. Many of the office duties apply to remote workers who will be able to get started from home.
Browse Services Jobs on GrabJobs
Transportation & Utilities
This industry is set to increase hiring by 17%. These companies will be hiring for busy seasons, swing shifts and to meet occasional demand.
Browse Transportation Jobs and Utilities Jobs on GrabJobs
Public Admin
With a bump in employment of 14%, this industry is looking up. The administrative tasks asked of employees are easy to train for, have many different sectors that they serve, and have the possibility to turn into full-time employment for the right candidate.
Browse Public Admin Jobs on GrabJobs
Manufacturing & Production
Factories and assembly lines will continue to expand their reach and will be looking for temporary help during busy seasons to help ramp up production.
Browse Construction Jobs on GrabJobs
Conclusion
The job market in Singapore is doing as well as it can be for 2024. It may not be fully recovered, but as cities start to get the pandemic under control, they are able to start getting back to normal. Job seekers this year are likely to see increases in automation used by employers when hiring. Virtual interviews will continue, but the final decision will be made in person. Remote work is here to stay as companies adjust their expectations.
All of these circumstances mean more competition and increased importance placed on making yourself stand out. While one in five companies in Singapore plans to hire during the first quarter of 2024, there are still many steps to go and this year will likely see a different hiring cadence than in years past.
And there you have it – an article on job search tips and hiring trends in Singapore. We hope this article has provided you with a wealth of information on how to land a job in Singapore next year!
If you’re keen to look for other positions, visit GrabJobs to find a job opportunity in Singapore easily!
GrabJobs is a recruitment platform and job site headquartered in Singapore. On our site, you’ll find a wide variety of job listings. Read up here for career resources to help you along!
