Nearly one in four Singapore workers seek higher earnings in 2025: survey

25% of employees said that achieving a competitive salary will be a challenge in the coming year.

Nearly 24% of Singapore workers aim to increase their earnings in 2025, reflecting a continuation of trends from the previous year.

In its survey, Indeed noted many employees remain concerned about their salaries not keeping pace with the rising cost of living despite Singapore’s core inflation dropping to 2.1% in October 2024, the lowest in nearly three years.

As a result, 25% of employees believe that achieving a competitive salary will be one of their biggest career challenges in the coming year.

The firm also found more than 56% of workers plan to invest in training and courses to develop specialised skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, as well as soft skills like leadership and emotional intelligence.

In addition to salary concerns, Singapore workers are increasingly prioritising workplace flexibility and benefits, wherein 31% of respondents identified better compensation and benefits as the top change they would like to see in their workplaces by 2025.

Flexible work arrangements (22%) and clearer career development pathways (21%) were also highlighted as key areas of interest.

To further secure their financial stability, more than 56% of Singapore workers are currently pursuing or considering additional paid work.

Meanwhile, 17% of respondents are unsure about taking on extra work, whilst 27% have no plans to do so.