Singapore Opportunity Index must not benefit only larger firms: Industry players

An adapted version for smaller, progressive employers can help with visibility, they say

- Tay Hong Yi Correspondent

Industry players said that care must be taken to ensure the Singapore Opportunity Index does not compound hiring challenges for smaller employers. The first iteration of the index includes only employers with 100 or more Singaporean and permanent resident employees. The top 300 are set to be named on an unranked list. ST FILE PHOTO

A new Singapore Opportunity Index unveiled earlier in October proposes to measure how much, and how inclusively, employers provide tangible career and salary growth to local talent.

However, even as they broadly lauded the move, industry players The Straits Times spoke to said care must be taken to ensure the index does not compound hiring challenges for smaller employers.

To ensure the results are statistically meaningful, the first iteration of the index includes only publicand private-sector employers with 100 or more Singaporean and permanent resident employees.

These employers are scored based on various metrics relating to retention, progression, pay, gender parity and hiring practices, with the top 300 set to be named on an unranked list come the first quarter of 2026.

This has given rise to concerns that smaller firms that can provide strong growth will face an uphill battle to catch the attention of job seekers compared with larger firms with sterling performance on the index and named on the list.

“The current threshold of 100 Singapore resident employees may unintentionally exclude many smaller yet progressive employers,” said Mr Julian Tan, founder and chief executive of jobs platform operator FastCo.

“These firms often innovate in flexible work arrangements, skills-based hiring, and upskilling opportunities.”