Hiring outlook across seven sectors in Singapore for Q1 2019

In the first quarter of 2019, a slight decline in hiring pace is expected. This comes after three consecutive quarters of strengthening labour market activity over the past year.

According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, 10% of 645 employers polled intend to hire, 1% forecast a decrease, while the bulk (86%) predict no change. After accounting for seasonal variation, the overall net employment outlook came in at +10% — a 3 percentage point (pp) decline from the previous quarter, but remaining unchanged from a year ago.

Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, said: "Employers in Singapore are currently cautious in their business outlook due to escalating trade tensions between the United States and China. Most employers are opting to maintain their workforce numbers in the upcoming quarter while they observe developments in the situation."

By organisation size, large employers (250 or more staff) reported the highest net employment outlook, followed by medium businesses (50-249 staff), small employers (10-49 staff), and micro-size employers (less than 10 staff). The net employment outlook came in at +36%, +15%, +9%, and +3% respectively.

ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey also revealed the hiring outlook across seven sectors, including: finance, insurance, and real estate; manufacturing; mining and construction; public admin and education; services; transportation and utilities; as well as wholesale trade and retail trade.

Here are the forecasts (from strongest to weakest hiring outlook):

Manufacturing

The strongest labor market in more than four years is expected in the next three months with employers reporting a seasonally adjusted outlook of +14%. This marks a 2pp improvement quarter-over-quarter and 8pp year-over-year.

 

Public admin and education

A steady hiring pace can be expected in the first quarter of 2019. Employers report an outlook of +11%. However, hiring prospects are considerably weaker both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year, declining by 19pp and 16pp, respectively.

 

Services

A fair hiring climate is forecast for the next three months with employers reporting an outlook of +10%. Hiring intentions declined by 2pp when compared with the previous quarter and are 4pp weaker in comparison with 1Q 2018.

 

Finance, insurance, and real estate

With an outlook of +7%, employers anticipate a mild hiring climate in the January to March time frame. Compared to the previous quarter, hiring prospects declined by 6pp and are 18pp weaker compared to the first quarter of 2018.

 

Mining and construction

Modest hiring opportunities are expected in the coming quarter. Employers are reporting an outlook of +7% - 4pp weaker compared to Q4 2018, but a 2pp improvement compared to a year ago.

 

Teo commented: "Despite being uncertain about business prospects in the new year, most employers expect to add more digital talents to their workforce to develop their digital infrastructure and capabilities. IT professionals and digital talents specialized in the digitization of manual processes will continue to be in demand in the first quarter."

Across Asia Pacific, employers across all eight countries and territories expect to grow payrolls in the upcoming quarter.

Japanese employers report the strongest outlook in the region, while the weakest hiring intentions in the region are reported in China and Singapore.

In a comparison with the final quarter of 2018, hiring intentions improve in four countries and territories, but weaken in two:

• China (+10%): Up by 3pp
• Hong Kong (+18%): Up by 1pp
• Japan (+27%): Up by 1pp
• New Zealand (+16%): Up by 1pp
• Australia (+14%): Remains the same
• Taiwan (+21%): Remains the same
• India (+12%): Down by 1pp
• Singapore (+10%): Down by 3pp

When compared with last year at this time, outlook strengthen in five countries and territories, but decline in two:

• Japan (+27%): Up by 3pp
• China (+10%): Up by 2pp
• Hong Kong (+18%): Up by 2pp
• Australia (+14%): Up by 1pp
• New Zealand (+16%): Up by 1pp
• Singapore (+10%): Remains the same
• Taiwan (+21%): Down by 4pp
• India (+12%): Down by 10pp

Among the 44 countries surveyed globally, Japan expects the strongest hiring intention in Q1 2019 with a net employment outlook of +27%, while Argentina predicts the weakest with an outlook of -4%. The United States is among the top five, with an outlook of +20%, while the UK stands in the bottom half with an outlook of +6%.

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Note: The 'net employment outlook' is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter. All outlook reported above are seasonally adjusted. 

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Infographics / ManpowerGroup

Lead photo / 123RF