SINGAPORE – Hiring sentiment here has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, but employers are willing to pay more for employees with artificial intelligence and critical thinking skills.
Two-thirds of the 599 companies in Singapore surveyed by ManpowerGroup said they would pay a salary premium for AI literacy. This finding was most apparent in the public sector, health and social services, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.
Bosses also indicated willingness to pay more for AI model and application development skills (64 per cent) and traditional information technology and data skills (56 per cent), the recruitment firm’s quarterly employment outlook survey revealed on June 9.
Soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, leadership and social influence are also being rewarded with higher pay by employers.
When asked about their hiring plans for the next quarter starting July, 41 per cent of employers said they expect to maintain current staffing levels, while 22 per cent anticipate a decrease in manpower. Among those expecting to maintain the status quo, 27 per cent want to see how the economy changes before making hiring decisions.
ManpowerGroup Singapore’s country manager Linda Teo noted that many employers choose to hold steady on headcount until there is greater clarity on geopolitical conditions.
“This does not mean employers are standing still. Instead, hiring decisions are becoming more selective and deliberate,” she said, adding that talent investments are increasingly directed towards “skills that deliver the greatest impact”.
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