Job ads decline 3.7% as lower-skilled roles shrink

Job postings in scientific research and development rose 35%, whilst security and public safety roles climbed 31%.

Job postings in Singapore declined by 3.7% in recent months, but overall hiring activity remains 50% above pre-pandemic levels, according to new data from Indeed’s Hiring Lab.

Despite the overall softening, job postings in scientific research and development rose 35%, whilst security and public safety roles climbed 31% and production and manufacturing postings increased 16% over the past three months.

Meanwhile, roles tied to Generative AI (GenAI) have doubled in volume over the past year, with the highest demand found in data analytics, scientific research, and software development.

The share of job ads in Singapore referencing GenAI now stands at 1.2%, four times higher than markets like the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia—underscoring Singapore’s position as a rising regional GenAI hub.

In contrast, lower-skilled jobs have seen steeper declines. Indeed’s data shows postings for cleaning and sanitation dropped 33%, whilst childcare and retail roles fell by 19% and 18% respectively.