Hiring outlook in Singapore for Q4 2025 dips

The transport, logistics, and automotive sector was the most optimistic.

Singapore’s hiring sentiment continues its downward trend in the fourth quarter of 2025, as employers take a cautious approach to hiring.

Out of 524 employers surveyed in the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, 37% anticipate an increase in hiring, and 17% expect they will be scaling back in their headcount.

Singapore’s net employment outlook (NEO) for Q4 2025 stands at +20%, weakening by 17% from Q3 2025 and 31% year-over-year (YoY).

The survey showed that company expansion remains the top reason for staffing increases (43%), the same as the previous quarter. Other top reasons include new ventures needing new roles (38%) and diversity efforts opening new roles (33%).

Economic challenges (41%), restructuring (31%), adjusting to current demands (30%), and market shifts (30%) are the top reasons for workforce reductions.

The survey also revealed that employers plan to keep their staffing levels stable due to confidence in their existing teams.

Nearly half of employers (45%) plan to maintain current staffing levels in Q4, with 38% indicating that their existing teams are sufficient to meet business goals.

Across key sectors, the transportation, logistics and automotive segment recorded the strongest hiring sentiment (48%), followed by healthcare and life sciences (38%), and communication services (28%).