Job title inflation

Was your promotion real or just on paper?

- Teo Kai Xiang

The job posting said "senior manager", but the reality fell short.

For May (not her real name), a 32-year-old graduate of Nanyang Technological University, securing the plum role overseeing operations and marketing at a social club in 2024 came with strings attached.

First, her $4,200 salary did not quite live up to the seniority implied by her new title. Her day-to-day tasks felt like grunt work, including taking meeting minutes and creating email marketing materials.

This disconnect between lofty job titles and on-the-ground responsibilities extended throughout her workplace. A late-20s colleague was designated "chief operations officer", while another entry-level hire was appointed "manager".

"From my perspective, this shows how title inflation can be misleading," says May, speaking under the condition of anonymity, as she is concerned about the impact on her career prospects.

"It makes roles look more senior and prestigious on paper, but doesn't actually translate into commensurate pay or career progression."

She left the company a few months into her stint to become a freelancer in the wellness industry, but her experience taps a common anxiety faced by workers: When is a promotion truly a promotion? And when is it merely title inflation?

ARE FANCY TITLES ON THE RISE?

Title inflation is the practice of giving workers outsized job titles that do not match their responsibilities, pay or seniority. Data suggests that it may be happening more often in an era of cost-cutting and career anxiety.

Data from vacancy portal Jobstreet shows an uptick in postings for senior professional roles from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025. Titles containing "lead" grew the most, at 38 per cent, while "manager" postings increased by 3 per cent.