Singapore workers cite lack of mentorship as top career barrier

13% say they need to change employers to advance.

Workers in Singapore are more likely to cite a lack of mentorship or internal support as the biggest barrier to career growth, unlike most global markets where limited advancement opportunities take the top spot.

According to ADP’s People at Work 2025 report, 12% of Singapore respondents identified the absence of mentors or champions as their main obstacle to progression, compared to a global average where 19% of workers cited lack of career growth opportunities overall.

Despite relatively fast career tracks in some sectors, Singapore workers still face retention and productivity challenges. Around 13% say they need to change employers to advance, and those who feel they must do so are 2.6 times less likely to consider themselves highly productive. Globally, 15% of workers share that view.

Across all markets, older workers reported more frustration with advancement: more than 20% of those aged 40 and above cited lack of opportunity as a key barrier, compared to 14% of younger workers aged 26 or under.

Individual contributors and middle managers were also more likely than senior leaders to feel stuck.

Interestingly, non-minority workers globally (20%) were more likely than racial or ethnic minorities (16%) to say lack of opportunity was their biggest career barrier, a reversal of some common assumptions around inclusion gaps.

Career advancement remains the single most important factor in employee loyalty, cited by 45% of workers who see a future with their current employer. Other top reasons include training and skills development (36%) and flexible work arrangements (34%).