Singapore job market shifts with rise in R&D opportunities

Jobs in the labour sector experienced sharp declines.

Job postings in Singapore have declined by 3.7% over the past three months, but demand for higher-skilled roles is rising, according to Indeed.

The fastest-growing sector was scientific research and development, which saw a 34.8% increase.

Other expanding job sectors include security and public safety (+31%), production and manufacturing (+16%), and veterinary and logistics support (+13%).

Meanwhile, job postings in cleaning (-33%), childcare (-19%), and retail (-18%) saw the sharpest declines.

Indeed attributed this downturn with recent labour trends. The Ministry of Manpower’s fourth-quarter labour report noted a “notable decline” in employment for lower-skilled sectors, including administrative and support services.

“There’s reason to be optimistic about Singapore’s employment outlook despite the month’s mixed results. Higher-skilled roles remain in high demand, with Singapore standing out globally, especially in gen AI and data-related roles. An exciting challenge now is helping workers integrate Gen AI capabilities into their skillsets.,” Callam Pickering, APAC senior economist at Indeed said.

“While more support and service-oriented roles have seen a dip, it’s not necessarily a cause for alarm. With the labour market set to expand, the focus should be on continuous skills development to stay resilient and competitive,” he added.

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