Singapore employers more optimistic about hiring in Q4

Poll finds 46% of companies plan to boost headcount; 36% to maintain staffing levels

- Joanna Seow

Things are looking up for job seekers here, with a poll of employers showing that nearly half plan to hire in the fourth quarter of 2024, the first uptick in sentiment for the year.

A total of 46 per cent of companies surveyed plan to increase their headcount, while 36 per cent plan to maintain their staffing levels and 17 per cent expect to have fewer staff, said recruitment firm ManpowerGroup on Sept 10.

The firm surveyed 525 Singapore employers in July about their hiring plans from October to December and calculated the net employment outlook, which is a measure of hiring optimism defined as the percentage of companies surveyed that intend to take on new staff, minus the percentage that intend to downsize.