SG job market seem no so well as claimed?

[k1976]

Over 130 applications, still no offer’: International student in Singapore shares job hunt struggles​

An international student in Singapore shared on Reddit her struggles after applying to over 130 jobs with no success. Netizens responded with mixed views—some offered encouragement and advice, while others pointed to a tough job market even for locals.

Published


on

21 June 2025
By

The Online Citizen

SINGAPORE: An international student in Singapore has taken to Reddit to share her struggles in securing a full-time job, despite months of effort and over 130 job applications.

With her student visa expiring at the end of 2025, she is now appealing to the online community for advice, job leads, or simply words of encouragement.

The 23-year-old student, who is currently pursuing a Master’s in Economics at the Singapore Management University (SMU), said she has maintained a perfect GPA of 4.0 throughout her studies.

Coming from a modest background in India, she shared that she earned a full scholarship for her undergraduate degree based on academic merit before continuing her studies in Singapore.

“I never thought I’d be posting something like this, but after months of trying, I’m feeling completely lost,” she wrote in her Reddit post on r/SGExams on 17 June.

“I just hope sharing my story might reach someone who understands or can offer advice.”

Prior to coming to Singapore, she worked in sales for a major corporation in India, held a role in financial analysis, participated in econometrics research projects, and completed a training programme with Protege Ventures.

Since arriving in Singapore, she has applied to over 130 companies for full-time positions, crafting tailored applications, personalised cover letters, and undergoing extensive interview preparations.

One of her recent efforts included applying for a customer support position at Bloomberg, for which she went through three rounds of interviews after weeks of preparation.

 

[k1976]

Over 40% of Singapore workers have either changed jobs or plan to do so soon: Survey​

ByJewel Stolarchuk
June 20, 2025
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SINGAPORE: A recent survey conducted by Randstad, the world’s largest human resources company, has revealed that more than 40% of employees in Singapore have either changed jobs or plan to do so within a 12-month period.

The findings, based on responses from approximately 2,500 individuals, highlight a growing sense of restlessness in the workforce—particularly among professionals in the financial and technology sectors.

The key driver behind this trend, according to the survey, is a lack of flexibility in work arrangements. Despite widespread adoption of hybrid work models in recent years, many employees are now being asked to return to the office more frequently—a move that appears to be sparking dissatisfaction.

Randstad noted that while many employers have implemented flexible work policies, there remains significant room for improvement.

 

[k1976]

Singapore ranks No. 3 in list of world’s ‘magnetic cities’​

In Singapore, emotional connection is strong, with 77 per cent of residents saying they are satisfied with the city as a place to live in.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Chantal Sajan
UPDATED JUN 20, 2025, 05:34 PM


SINGAPORE – Singapore ranks No. 3 in a new list of top 10 magnetic cities where newcomers and residents feel they are most likely to stay.

Taipei in Taiwan tops the rankings, with 64 per cent of survey respondents saying they are “unlikely” to move away from their city.

In second place is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with 61 per cent. Singapore notched 59 per cent.


The global rankings are conducted by the research unit of Gensler, the world’s largest architectural and design group.

Its Gensler City Pulse 2025 report on the Magnetic City, which attracts newcomers while retaining residents, was released in May.

It looks at urgent issues facing cities today that are locked in fierce competition, not just for investment and talent but also for the hearts of residents.

Singapore ranks No. 3 in list of world’s ‘magnetic cities’​

In Singapore, emotional connection is strong, with 77 per cent of residents saying they are satisfied with the city as a place to live in.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Chantal Sajan
UPDATED JUN 20, 2025, 05:34 PM
SINGAPORE – Singapore ranks No. 3 in a new list of top 10 magnetic cities where newcomers and residents feel they are most likely to stay.
Taipei in Taiwan tops the rankings, with 64 per cent of survey respondents saying they are “unlikely” to move away from their city.
In second place is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with 61 per cent. Singapore notched 59 per cent.
The global rankings are conducted by the research unit of Gensler, the world’s largest architectural and design group.
Its Gensler City Pulse 2025 report on the Magnetic City, which attracts newcomers while retaining residents, was released in May.
It looks at urgent issues facing cities today that are locked in fierce competition, not just for investment and talent but also for the hearts of residents.

 

[k1976]

Singapore Q3 job outlook: Who’s hiring? Opportunities, risks & forecasts amid Trump tariffs.​

Michael Petraeus

1 day ago​

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Data is sourced from third-party sources provided in the article.
While the global economic situation remains uncertain following the international trade war started by Donald Trump in April, we now have some data to gauge the anticipated impact it might have on the labour market in Singapore in the coming quarter.
Here’s a compilation of findings from several sources, showing mixed signals and discrepancies between predicted behaviour and real hiring activity.
Let’s start with ManpowerGroup, which has just released its quarterly employment outlook survey for Singapore, reviewing hiring sentiments among employers divided into nine broad categories:

1. Transport, Logistics and Automotive
2. Healthcare and Life Sciences
3. Industrials and Materials
4. Consumer Goods and Services
5. Energy and Utilities
6. Information Technology
7. Financials and Real Estate
8. Communication Services
9. Other, not on the list

Their methodology is simple: For each quarter, the authors collect responses from over 40,000 employers in 42 countries, measuring the intent to hire against the plans to reduce employment. The net result, positive or negative, shows the direction in the entire labour market as well as in each specific industry.

Stability despite instability​

The survey by ManpowerGroup was carried out between April 1 and 30, at the height of trade tensions, when Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs on the world and ratcheted up pressure on China, leading to a de facto trade freeze between the two.
Despite these violent jolts, Net Employment Outlook ahead of this Q3 is actually better than it was last year: 24% vs. just 20% in 2024.

Image Credit: ManpowerGroup Singapore​

The bump in the metric is mostly thanks to a 5 percentage point drop in the share of employers anticipating layoffs—from 24% to 19%—while those expecting hiring to continue dipping by just one point.
If anything, then, this suggests greater employment stability for those already with a job, which is a welcome development given the general instability that Trump’s presidency has appeared to unleash on a trade-dependent country such as Singapore.
Longer-term trends suggest that hiring sentiments have, indeed, stabilised, following pandemic dips and post-pandemic bounce-back across 2022 and 2023. The figures for 2025 appear to be comparable, if not slightly better, than those for 2024.

Image Credit: ManpowerGroup Singapore​

However, not everything is rosy, as nearly 70% of Singapore employers consider the trade headwinds a significant factor in shaping their hiring decisions.

Image Credit: ManpowerGroup Singapore​

Moreover, those who are planning cuts point to economic challenges and market shifts as the main drivers of retrenchments. Not everybody is left unscathed by the unpredictable global situation, it seems.

​

 

[k1976]

Stability despite instability​

The survey by ManpowerGroup was carried out between April 1 and 30, at the height of trade tensions, when Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs on the world and ratcheted up pressure on China, leading to a de facto trade freeze between the two.

Despite these violent jolts, Net Employment Outlook ahead of this Q3 is actually better than it was last year: 24% vs. just 20% in 2024.

Image Credit: ManpowerGroup Singapore
The bump in the metric is mostly thanks to a 5 percentage point drop in the share of employers anticipating layoffs—from 24% to 19%—while those expecting hiring to continue dipping by just one point.

If anything, then, this suggests greater employment stability for those already with a job, which is a welcome development given the general instability that Trump’s presidency has appeared to unleash on a trade-dependent country such as Singapore.