ManpowerGroup survey shows Q4 hiring optimism dips below global average, with most firms holding steady
Singapore’s hiring sentiment has cooled going into the fourth quarter of 2025, with only 37% of employers planning to hire, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest employment outlook survey. The results reflect global uncertainty while highlighting sectoral bright spots in logistics and healthcare.
Hiring Sentiment At Multi-Year Low
The net employment outlook (NEO) for Singapore in Q4 2025 stands at +20%, down four points from Q3 and nine points from a year ago. This marks the joint-lowest reading in more than three years and sits three percentage points below the global average of +23% across 42 markets.
Almost half of the 524 employers surveyed plan to maintain staffing levels, while 17% expect to cut jobs—slightly fewer than in Q3. Just 1% remain uncertain, signaling a wait-and-see stance as companies monitor global trade and economic conditions.
Bright Spots: Logistics And Healthcare
Transport, logistics, and automotive emerged as the strongest sector with a NEO of +48%, the second-highest globally and 24 points above the world average. Healthcare and life sciences followed at +38%, though slightly lower than last quarter. Communication services ranked third at +28%.
The financial and real estate sector posted the weakest outlook at +10%, plunging from +62% a year earlier. Information technology also saw steep declines, dropping to +15% as firms reassessed hiring in light of AI-driven shifts in workforce demand.
Employer Strategies And Challenges
Employers cited sufficient existing teams and lack of major expansion plans as reasons for holding staffing steady. Those still hiring pointed to business growth and new ventures creating job demand.
Talent acquisition challenges remain pronounced. Over half of employers named attracting qualified candidates as their top difficulty, while others highlighted struggles in filling complex technical roles. Retention strategies focused on work-life balance and manageable workloads, particularly in financial and real estate firms.
Company Size And Hiring Intentions
Small companies with 10–49 employees reported the strongest optimism at 33%, outpacing large enterprises with over 5,000 staff at 20%. Mid-sized firms of 50–249 employees posted a weak +15%, while micro firms under 10 employees recorded just +12%, a reversal from their top spot in Q3.
Regional And Global Trends
In the Asia-Pacific, hiring sentiment averaged +28%. The UAE topped global rankings at +45%, while Hong Kong was the weakest in the region at +6%. Globally, NEO stood at +23%, with Argentina at the bottom at +5%. Singapore’s cooling trend mirrors broader caution among businesses facing geopolitical tensions and shifting trade flows.
Singapore’s Q4 hiring outlook reflects global economic headwinds and local structural shifts, with most employers choosing stability over expansion. While logistics and healthcare shine as growth engines, sectors like finance and IT struggle with sharp declines. For Singaporeans and regional jobseekers, the survey underscores a cautious but uneven labor market ahead.
Sources: The Business Times (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Singapore Job Market, Hiring Outlook, ManpowerGroup Q4 Survey, Logistics Hiring, Healthcare Jobs, Employment Trends
