Singapore bosses "upbeat" about hiring in 2015

Employers in Singapore plan to increase headcount between January and March next year, new statistics from the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reveal.

Of the 650 employers interviewed across seven industry sectors in Singapore, 19% of employers forecasted an increase in staffing levels, 3% anticipated a decrease and 78% expected no change.

“Once the data is adjusted to allow for seasonal variation, the outlook stands at a promising 18%,” the survey stated.

The most robust hiring activities were anticipated in the services sector, with a net employment outlook of 25%. This was followed by the transportation and utilities sector (20%), and the public administration and education sector (19%.)

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“Employers’ hiring confidence is very encouraging in the midst of a potential slowdown in the region’s economy,” Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, said.

Steady hiring activity was also anticipated in the wholesale trade and retail trade sector and the finance, insurance and real estate sector, with outlooks of 18% and 16% respectively.

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“When compared with Q1 2014, hiring intentions improve in four of the seven industry sectors, most notably by five and four percentage points in the services sector and the public administration and education sector respectively,” the survey reported.

“However, outlooks weaken in three sectors, including the finance, insurance and real estate sector and the mining and construction sector, where employers report considerable declines of nine percentage points.”

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