Majority of Singaporeans say they are in a strong position to change jobs

Employers in Singapore might find it harder to keep hold of their best staff this year, as a survey has revealed that nearly two thirds (64 per cent) believe they ‘are in a good position to secure a similar or better position’.

The 2017 Kelly Services and Capita Salary Guide also found just over half (51 per cent) of professional and technical respondents think they are in high demand and have the upper hand in the job market.

“Singapore has a highly skilled workforce and its workers are well aware of their market power,” said Foo See Yang, managing director and country head for Kelly Services Singapore.

“If they are dissatisfied with an organisation, they will actively look to find something better. This is especially so for high performers and those with high demand skills such as data analytics or risk management.”

The report found that the sector likely to be doing the most hiring of HR professionals is finance, insurance and real estate. And the HR job roles with the highest demand are talent management and development.

Official estimates for Singapore’s economic growth this year are steady, between one and three per cent. But the stable job market, combined with the push for productivity and digital disruption across industries “will require HR to step up its game to find the right personnel to help companies grow,” said the report.

It also offered some advice on how HR professionals can keep their knowledge relevant and stay in demand: “HR professionals should continue to equip themselves with skills such as strategic workforce planning and data analytics to better support their clients’ business imperatives.”

While Singaporean HR professionals may be feeling more confident that in previous years, the number of foreign workers in the city-state has been falling and overall employment growth has been static.