Singapore employees rank work-life balance over pay anew

Whilst 62% of respondents reported feeling engaged in their roles, 18% said they felt disengaged. 

For the third year running, work-life balance has emerged as the top priority for employees in Singapore, beating out salary and benefits as the leading factor driving job satisfaction and employer appeal, ccording to Randstad Singapore’s latest Employer Brand Research.

Whilst 62% of respondents reported feeling engaged in their roles, 18% said they felt disengaged. Those disengaged employees are 60% more likely to consider quitting.

The top driver of engagement? A strong work-life balance, cited by 40% of respondents. Other key motivators include career growth opportunities (37%) and manageable workloads (36%).

Millennials showed the strongest preference for work-life balance (44%), whilst Gen Z leaned more toward growth opportunities (37%) and Gen X prioritized manageable workloads (42%).

Lack of recognition was the most consistent demotivator across all generations, with nearly half of Gen Z and Gen X respondents saying they felt underappreciated.

The research also revealed shifting patterns in AI adoption at work. Frequent use of AI tools rose among Gen Z and Gen X, but dropped by seven points among Millennials, down to 36%.

Equity emerged as a top-five EVP factor across all generations. Respondents expressed strong interest in equal opportunity, transparent leadership, and inclusive work environments.