Platforms detect job mismatch through 'blank searches'

Keyword-free queries rise as jobseekers struggle to match skills and available roles.

Singapore’s labour market remains tight, but job matching is getting harder, showing up in an unusual way: more jobseekers are searching without typing anything at all.

These “blank searches” occur when users hit enter on the search bar with no keywords. Madhu Kurup, VP of Engineering at Indeed, defined it plainly: “You go into a search box, for example, at Indeed, and you don't specify anything and you just hit enter, asking for results back with no specified topic, so there's no query term, that's what we call a blank search.”

The rise in blank searches is not necessarily a sign that opportunities have dried up. Liyana Soh, Head of Marketing at Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore, cited data suggesting demand remains steady. Jobstreet data also showed job postings were stable from November 2024 to October 2025, with 3% year-on-year growth.

Instead, the pattern points to a harder issue: misalignment between what jobseekers can offer and what employers need, especially in specialised roles. Soh said that jobs are increasingly concentrated in management, tech, and policy, where “skill mismatches can be quite common,” because roles demand both specialised digital and analytical skills and soft skills gained through deep experience.

Kurup said blank searches often reflect uncertainty or exploration rather than disengagement. He said, “after users hit blank searches, they turn on filters. They tend to look around, they tend to investigate and usually they tend to apply to one or more jobs,” which can signal emerging interest that platforms can use to refine recommendations.

Soh said outcomes also depend on personal habits. Some apply immediately; others curate and track applications—sometimes using spreadsheets shared online. Even when uncertain, she said jobseekers still have preferences around outcomes and trade-offs. Her team’s research found that 49% would accept a less prestigious employer in exchange for better work culture.

Turning blank searches into better matches may come down to clearer postings and better discovery tools. Soh urged employers to provide clarity on expectations, growth, and how success is measured, noting that mismatches on pay, fairness, and scope often surface months into the job. Kurup said employers should evaluate listings “from the eyes of the job seeker,” ensuring critical information like salary and shift schedules is included.