Hays Quarterly Employment Report for Singapore
Internal auditors, senior quantity surveyors, project managers and marketing communications professionals are some of the skills employers seek in this new year.
In the January – March edition of the Hays Quarterly Report, Hays found that the reason for the growing demand is due to several factors. The first reason is because employers are now opting to recruit now in an attempt to gain competitive advantage and secure the best of the available talent, says Chris Mead, general manager of Hays in Singapore.
“Secondly, many organisations that cut staffing numbers to the bone in 2009 are going to look for new recruits. Now that the market is slowly recovering, employers are reassessing and re-creating vacancies. While they still exercise caution, more non-essential hires are now sanctioned,” Mead says.
“Thirdly, candidates already in permanent roles are preparing to re-enter the job market. Some have already started looking for their next career step and this momentum will also generate opportunities as positions become vacant, further fuelling the jobs market.”
According to the Hays Quarterly Report, the following skills are sought:
Accountancy & Finance: High demand exists for regulatory-related finance professionals. Experienced internal auditors are also sought due to the strong control culture in all companies.
Banking: Project management and strategic change candidates are sought following mergers and acquisitions and the migration of roles from other locations to Singapore. Investment banking operations is also an area of demand given recent expansions and role migration. Risk management and controls candidates are in demand due to heightened regulatory oversights.
Construction: Government infrastructure spending has seen companies tender for new projects. When added to their current project workload, this has created a need for senior quantity surveyors, project managers, estimators, estimating managers and costing managers.
Finance Technology: Java, C++ and C# skills are in most demand. Employers will also seek business analysts and project managers with domain experience across development, infrastructure and business.
Human Resources: Expanding companies are creating new HR roles at the senior level for managers and above as well as for generalists. Candidates with regional experience are preferred.
Pharma: General and technical R&D skills, including clinical, medical and manufacturing scientists, are sought due to continued government financial support.
Property: Project managers/directors are needed in the fit-out space within commercial/retail as major corporate banks, IT companies and MNCs expand. Employers continue to seek local FM talent, specifically within the commercial and data centres.
Sales & Marketing: FMCG and retail employers seek strong marketing candidates with product-based experience and insightful consumer trend experience. Marketing communications professionals at all levels, from graduates to directors, are in demand. The IT&T sector wants sales candidates with at least three to four years experience.
Sources and references: Sandbox Advisors, Hays, HRO