S’pore noticed the largest drop in job postings in 5 yrs

Hiring traits differ considerably throughout sectors

Simply as hiring gave the impression to be selecting up, Singapore’s job market has reversed course. Job postings have fallen to the bottom degree since Mar 2021, in keeping with the most recent report from job itemizing portal Certainly.

In Feb 2026, postings dropped 4.5% to take a seat 12% under a 12 months in the past, a lower that has greater than offset three consecutive months of positive aspects.

Nonetheless, the headline figures solely inform a part of the story. Hiring traits differ considerably throughout sectors, with positive aspects in some occupations offset by steep declines in others.

Right here’s a breakdown of how job postings have shifted throughout totally different roles:

The winners & losers

Certainly offers a rolling three-month breakdown for the professions with the most important swings in demand, so we will evaluate which jobs are going up and that are falling out of favour.

Job postings rose in round half of occupational classes over the previous three months, led by positive aspects in IT infrastructure, operations & help (+19%), arts & leisure (+16%) and software program growth (+15%).

Curiously, a number of the strongest positive aspects had been recorded in occupations which have a excessive publicity to AI transformation.

However these positive aspects had been offset by steep declines elsewhere.

Postings fell sharply in childcare (-29%), dental (-23%) and civil physicians & surgeons (-18%), with schooling and healthcare among the many sectors seeing essentially the most pronounced pullback in current months.

Extra distant work alternatives

The report additionally discovered that distant work is steadily gaining floor.

In February, 8.6% of all job postings explicitly talked about phrases like “earn a living from home” or “work remotely.” That’s a slight improve from the 8.4% recorded a 12 months in the past, and has climbed from a post-pandemic low of 6.9% in late 2022. 

Distant work alternatives are commonest in IT techniques & options at 15.6% of postings within the February quarter, forward of gross sales (15.5%) and media & communications (14.0%). 

Giant positive aspects had been additionally seen in occupations which have historically provided few distant or hybrid alternatives. Social sciences (+4.5%) and actual property (+3.5%) led the way in which.

However not all sectors are shifting in the identical route.

Distant postings fell sharply in insurance coverage (-7.5%), human assets (-6.0%), structure (-5.3%), and electrical engineering (-3.6%), underscoring how distant work traits differ extensively throughout occupations.

The labour market nonetheless stays sturdy

On the entire, although, it looks like the labour market scenario in Singapore nonetheless stays secure and robust, regardless of the lower within the complete variety of openings.

On the finish of Feb, job postings had been nonetheless 32% above pre-pandemic ranges.

The post-pandemic job increase in Singapore was so massive that regardless that job postings are down 45% from their peak in Jul 2022, it’s nonetheless sufficiently excessive to maintain the unemployment charge low—simply 2% on the finish of final 12 months.

Nevertheless, the Singapore economic system will face some stiff financial headwinds this 12 months because the battle within the Center East triggers larger inflation and elevated cautiousness from households and companies alike.

With a decent labour market and strong financial development final 12 months, Singapore is comparatively effectively positioned to climate these challenges. Nonetheless, the financial outlook has softened in current weeks, underscoring the dangers forward.

Certainly expects that job alternatives will proceed to reasonable over the course of 2026. 

• Learn different articles we’ve written on Singaporean companies right here.

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