S'pore workers say their jobs fall short of expectations: Poll

Talent experts urge more conversations between bosses and teams to bridge gap

- Krist Boo Senior Business Correspondent

Singapore workers are ending 2025 with the dull ache of feeling trapped in jobs that fall short of their expectations, and suspecting that working harder would not pay off either.

Employers, on the other hand, believe they are rocking away on employee expectations.

This mismatch is among the findings and views gleaned from surveys and human resources specialists.

Employment portal Seek, which polled the views of 500 employees and 300 employers over two months from October, said the gap surprised because employers reported raising pay and benefits to meet staff demands in an earlier study conducted in 2024.

Yet now, eight in 10 workers say their jobs underdeliver on the job pitch.

The firm's latest survey found that disenchantment hits fast, with new joiners spotting the mismatch within their first three months – such as when their payslip fails to reflect actual responsibilities, their job scopes blur, or when the culture feels off.

Ms Chook Yuh Yng, Seek's director for Asia sales, said employees' unhappiness over the job pitches is making them question employers' transparency, which, in turn, leads to more mistrust and frustration.

On their end, nine in 10 managers said new hires change expectations shortly after joining. And they are not being disputed: Almost half of employees agree, with most of them pointing to mental health and well-being reasons.

In 2025, Singapore workers also lag behind their peers in the Asia-Pacific in believing that if they do a better job, they will be better paid.