Singapore’s workforce outpaces hiring systems as employees redefine stability and skills

Singapore’s workforce is outpacing its hiring systems, according to new research from Indeed. The latest Work at 60 Report revealed that while employees are actively adapting to technological disruption, shifting expectations, and longer careers, most hiring structures remain anchored to rigid job titles, degree requirements, and narrow definitions of experience.

The survey highlighted a stark disconnect between what employees value and what employers believe they value. Salary and stability, as well as work-life balance top employees’ priorities, with 59% citing each as critical when evaluating a job. Employers, however, significantly underestimate these factors, predicting them at just 29% and 27%, respectively.

“Employees are nearly twice as likely as employers think to prioritise salary, security and balance. In a tight labour market, underestimating those fundamentals risks narrowing your own talent pool,” said Saumitra R Chand, Career Expert at Indeed. “That means hiring strategies must move beyond assumptions and more clearly align compensation, stability and flexibility with what candidates are actively looking for.”

The report also showed that entry-level roles are at the epicentre of this shift. Nearly half of employees (46%) believe these positions will face the most disruption in the next decade, a view echoed by 44% of employers. Yet talent acquisition remains challenging: 30% of employers cite finding skilled candidates as their biggest hiring obstacle, while 52% say attracting and retaining Gen Z employees is particularly difficult.

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Younger employees are responding to these shifts by building hybrid skillsets that combine digital fluency with human strengths. Employers, however, continue to struggle to find “job-ready” candidates, suggesting a lag in recognition rather than a shortage of capability.

Employees in Singapore are also redefining what stability means. While salary, job security, and work-life balance remain central, employees are increasingly investing in high-demand skills and preparing for change, reflecting a proactive approach rather than complacency. The survey found that 58% of employees believe hiring is moving toward skills-first approaches, and 57% see greater emphasis on wellbeing and employee-centred workplace cultures.

As Singapore marks 60 years of nationhood, the report frames a labour market at a structural inflection point. The workforce is future-focused and recalibrating expectations, while hiring systems lag behind. The next evolution of work will depend not just on job creation or automation, but on whether hiring frameworks adapt to align with today’s employee priorities in pay, progression, and purpose.