Singapore’s hospitality and tourism sectors are experiencing a significant surge in demand for workers, with job postings rising by a substantial 64.3 per cent over the past three months, according to new data published by Indeed, the global job matching and hiring platform.
This spike arrives as the overall Singapore job market shows signs of a fragile recovery, with job postings increasing in September after two consecutive months of decline.
The rapid growth in hospitality and tourism roles was mirrored by noticeable increases in human resources, which saw postings rise by 37.1 per cent, and logistic support roles, which grew by 16.7 per cent in the same three-month window.
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In stark contrast, several highly specialised sectors recorded significant contraction in job availability. Dental roles experienced the largest decline at 27.1 per cent, followed by childcare, dropping 23.1 per cent, and insurance, which fell by 17.6 per cent.
Macro context: A moderate rebound
Overall, Singapore job postings grew by 1 per cent in September, halting the two-month downward slide. Despite this slight rebound, the current job figures remain 14.5 per cent lower than those recorded a year ago, signalling a sustained downward trend observed over the past three years.
Callam Pickering, Indeed’s APAC Senior Economist, provided a cautious assessment of the figures: “Singapore job postings rebounded slightly in September, but we expect job postings to continue to moderate going forward”. Pickering noted that despite the expected moderation in postings, the Singapore labour market remains tight, defined by a low unemployment rate of 2 per cent and skill shortages that are still common.
High retention in nursing and F&B
The data also highlighted sectors where career pathways appear longer and retention rates are notably high. Resume data collected by Indeed between 2022 and 2024 revealed that registered nurses were the least likely cohort to switch occupations when finding new employment; only 11.9 per cent of those changing jobs moved outside of the nursing profession.
Similar retention patterns were observed across the food preparation profession. Only 12.7 per cent of line cooks, 18.9 per cent of chefs, and 29.4 per cent of cooks left the food and beverage industry when seeking new roles between 2022 and 2024.
Accounting also demonstrated strong retention. Just 27.2 per cent of audit associates, 31.1 per cent of senior accountants, and 32.5 per cent of senior auditors opted to leave the accounting profession during the monitored period.
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Pickering stated that Singaporeans are motivated to change jobs for various reasons, with “higher pay or career advancement being obvious motivations”. Other factors driving workers to switch roles include seeking to “reduce stress, improve job security, or enjoy greater work-life balance,” alongside external factors such as redundancy, health issues, relocation, or a bad experience in their existing job.
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