High-skilled contingent hires to drive growth of IT industry in Singapore

According to the latest Hays Quarterly Report, employers are now opting for temporary and contract hires when seeking talent to deliver key IT initiatives. We see more vacancies for contingent IT professionals as employers recognise it as a cost-efficient and flexible way of supporting IT projects.

Short-term hires can prove to be the best choice for employers who require specific niche skill sets for certain projects as it allows employers to circumvent headcount constraints and hire relevant talent as and when needed. This speeds up the hiring process and ensures companies have the right people at the right time to tackle immediate projects.

We have also observed a trend of hiring highly-experienced IT contractors for roles which require less skills and experience. These IT contractors with a wealth of knowledge and experience can often offer more than the basic requirements of the role, and employers can benefit from their wider capabilities. They can also make an immediate impact on a project, drawing from their deep expertise and past successes, hence saving employers time and training costs.

However, contingent hires are not limited to just the operational level. We expect to see high demand for senior-level interim technology professionals this quarter as companies seek top talent to add strategic value at a regional level. These interim IT directors are sought after to complement the existing IT team and act as a sounding board to CIOs, particularly for international organisations operating in Singapore.

With companies increasing the number of temporary and contract jobs available, we see employers considering this as a long-term staffing solution. In turn, we have observed a change in mindset and attitude of IT talent in Singapore as they become more open to temporary roles and contract work.

More job seekers are considering contingency work as a career choice and not just as a foot in the door. These IT professionals believe that they are able to fully demonstrate their capabilities in short-term roles and gain valuable experience working on diverse projects. They view this as an opportunity to build new skills and expertise in different areas of IT. This gives them a competitive edge when seeking future contract or even permanent positions as employers value their experience having worked on high-impact projects with shorter delivery timelines.

With the continuous and rapid evolution of technology and the IT sector, we expect to see companies expand their IT function and increase both permanent and temporary headcount. As Singapore continues to be a talent-short market, it is imperative for employers to have the right hiring processes in place to secure high-skilled talent to support the growth of their business.