Singapore desperate for architects and construction professionals

As Singapore's infrastructure continues to expand, there is an increasing demand for professionals skilled in the construction and architecture industry.

New projects - such as the 1,800 bed hospital in Woodlands and the Terminal 4 building at Changi Airport, among others - are creating the need for more architects, designers, healthcare architects, planners, project managers and quantity surveyors, the Hays Quarterly Report found.

These professions are all among the candidates topping the list of skills in demands for January to March this year.

“Architectural and interior design firms are constantly looking for talent who can fill permanent roles," said Christine Wright, managing director of Hays in Asia. "We are also seeing particular demand for project managers in the hospitality industry, landscape architects and FFE (fixtures, furniture and equipment) designers.”

In the construction sector, ongoing MRT rail and tunnel projects also require experienced candidates with local or international experience. Tunnel managers are needed for the Thomson MRT Line, as well as upcoming projects.

"Candidates for these roles are typically civil engineers, with 15 years of relevant experience from a main contractor. Tender managers who are flexible and have experience running building or civil projects in Singapore are also sought."

For project managers, candidates with 10 years of experience and an awareness of local government regulations are also in hot demand. Construction managers who have worked on civil defence LTA contracts are in short supply, as are quantity surveyors, pre and post-contracts.

Most employers are looking to secure candidates on a permanent basis, said Wright, however a typical project life cycle will last three to five years, which could see staff reshuffled and reallocated back to office-based roles until a new project is on hand.

“Once employees receive their bonus this quarter we will see the traditional post-bonus spike in candidate movement in the construction sector,” she added.

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