Only 2 in 5 employers offer flexible work despite jobseekers making it a priority

Meanwhile, more Singaporeans are looking for more agile roles.

Only 40% of employers in Singapore offer flexible schedules for agile roles, whilst 42% offer remote work options, as more job seekers are drawn to jobs that offer work-life balance, according to Indeed’s Global Talent Report.

The research found that Singapore job seekers place a stronger emphasis on flexibility and work-life balance than the global average. More than one-third (38%) said flexibility and control over their time is the main reason they would consider agile work, whilst 35% cited better work-life balance.

64% said flexible schedules would make agile roles more attractive, and 60% pointed to remote work options as a key factor.

“The findings suggest there is a meaningful opportunity for employers in Singapore to better align workforce strategies with evolving employee expectations,” said Saumitra R Chand, Career Expert at Indeed. “Workers are increasingly open to more flexible ways of working, but they are still looking for stability, clarity and trust from employers.

Meanwhile, Singapore professionals are becoming more open to non-traditional career structures. Whilst only 15% currently identify themselves as agile workers, 60% said agile roles are appealing, even higher than the proportion who said traditional roles are appealing (52%).

The study also uncovered a disconnect between employers and workers around internal mobility. Whilst 40% of employers in Singapore said they look internally for agile talent, only 12% of job seekers said they search for agile opportunities within their current organisation.

Singapore employers were also among the strongest adopters of AI for workforce planning and agile work. Only 10% said they are not using AI to support workforce agility, compared with 35% of job seekers who said they are not using AI in this context.

Employers and workers differ significantly in how they view AI’s impact on career opportunities. Eight in 10 employers in Singapore believe AI is creating more high-paying agile opportunities, whilst only 42% of job seekers agree.

The report surveyed 10,283 respondents globally, including 503 job seekers and 100 employers in Singapore.