As graduates in Singapore prepare to enter the workforce, LinkedIn’s Grad’s Guide maps a job market that is more competitive — though opportunities remain for those willing to look beyond conventional starting points.
In Singapore, hiring remains challenging across the board. Entry-level hiring has declined by 4.43% year-on-year, though this is notably less pronounced than the drops recorded for managers (-12.44%) and senior professionals (-12.10%).
Yet, job-seeking intent is on the rise. With around 66% of Gen Z planning to pursue new roles despite economic uncertainty, standing out and identifying where opportunities are emerging has never been more critical for graduates.
Where opportunities are emerging
In Singapore, education is emerging as a leading industry for entry-level hiring, with roles such as high school teachers among the fastest-growing. Beyond education, opportunities are also growing across a broader mix of sectors, including consumer services, manufacturing, entertainment, and financial services, pointing to a wider spread of entry points across the economy.
Serla Rusli, Career Expert at LinkedIn, notes: “Graduates invest a lot in building their skills, and that foundation doesn’t disappear if they look beyond their ‘home’ sector.
“A tech graduate, for instance, doesn’t have to work only in tech companies — many industries are expanding their digital capabilities, and those skills often travel further than expected.”
Looking beyond big companies
The traditional route into large organisations is no longer the only entry point. LinkedIn data shows that while large companies continue to hire the highest volume of entry-level talent, the fastest growth is coming from smaller employers.
Between 2023 and 2025, entry-level hiring at small companies more than doubled (+152.2%), while mid-sized firms saw hiring grow by over 100%.
“For many graduates, smaller companies can sometimes offer broader early exposure — from taking on varied responsibilities to gaining a closer view of how businesses operate — helping build adaptability and transferable skills that carry across roles and industries over time,” says Rusli.
Bridging the experience gap through internships
In a more competitive market, many graduates are no longer waiting for their big break — they are creating their own through internships. Across Singapore, the share of entry-level workers with internship experience has increased across all major job functions, with the largest gains in fields such as legal, business development, consulting, and finance.
In some industries, nearly one in three entry-level hires now have prior internship experience, signalling that hands-on experience is fast becoming a baseline expectation rather than a differentiator.
Rusli says, “As internships become more critical pathways into full‑time roles, employers can rethink how they engage interns — offering meaningful exposure that builds confidence, clarity and long‑term talent pipelines.”
Taken together, these shifts point to a broader redefinition of how career entry points are becoming more varied in Singapore.
The importance of networks
At the same time, access is not equal. Globally, 44% of Gen Z say not having the right network is their biggest barrier to landing a first job. In Singapore, Gen Z professionals also have networks that are around 21% smaller than Millennials’, highlighting a gap in access early on.
Rusli adds: “Putting yourself out there early matters. Not every conversation leads to a role, but each one builds perspective and keeps you visible when the right opportunity arises.”