G-P (Globalization Partners) announced that more Singaporean workers (68%) anticipate hitting the job market in the next six months compared to last year (58%), according to the results of a new survey.
Additionally, more than half (56%) are considering pursuing a remote work opportunity for a global company without relocating, surpassing the global average of 42%. Over a third (33%) are considering moving to a different country to support their career, compared to just 19% globally.
The survey further revealed a strong preference among Singaporeans to work for global companies. Nine out of 10 (92%) want to work for a global company – ahead of the global average of 80%. Additionally, three-quarters (75%) of Singapore employees say better pay and benefits are most appealing about working for a company that hires globally — up considerably from 62% in 2023.
While most employees view international experience as a key factor for career advancement, challenges such as navigating language and cultural barriers, lack of visibility with management, and managing time zone differences remain significant concerns.
The launch of World at Work: The Future of Global Employment Report, G-P’s second annual report on global employment trends, shows that Singapore employees continue to value global companies for their ability to generate international clients, attract top talent, adopt new technologies, and adjust to consumer demand.
Despite the appeal of global companies, fewer Singapore employees believe global companies are better at handling economic uncertainty. In contrast, 40% consider them more capable of navigating geopolitical pressures, a slight increase from 34% last year.
Charles Ferguson, APMEA General Manager, G-P, said: “Singaporean employees are increasingly drawn to global companies, mainly due to the appeal of better pay, international travel prospects, exposure to diverse work cultures, and acquiring new personal skills.
“At the same time, they have raised their expectations for leadership, particularly in areas like problem-solving and cross-cultural communication, which are essential for effectively managing global teams.”
The vast majority of employees (97%) surveyed are also excited about potential uses for AI – the highest compared to other countries surveyed in Asia Pacific, particularly for automating repetitive tasks and providing more comprehensive analysis in their work. However some (36%) remain hesitant to use it at work out of concern their manager would place less value on their work.