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Singapore’s Net Employment Outlook for Q1 2020 is +9%, a moderate increase of 5 percentage points from previous quarterThe strongest labor market is anticipated to be the Public Admin & Education sector while firms in the Manufacturing sector report the weakest hiring intentionsFor the seventh consecutive quarter, the strongest Asia Pacific hiring prospects are reported in Japan. SINGAPORE (10 DECEMBER 2019) – Hiring pace in Singapore is expected to pick up during the first three months of 2020 as employers report encouraging signs for jobseekers in the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. ​Out of 630 employers surveyed, 13% of employers expect to increase payrolls, 5% forecast a decrease and 79% do not anticipate any change. The resulting Net Employment Outlook is +9% after adjusting for seasonal variation, a moderate increase of 5 percentage points from the previous quarter. ​“While employers are cautiously optimistic in their hiring plans for the upcoming quarter, they will adjust their hiring plans in reaction to changing market conditions,” says Ms Linda Teo, ManpowerGroup Singapore Country Manager. “As such, labor market activity is expected to be volatile.”​Employers expect to increase staffing levels in all seven industry sectors during the January to March period. The strongest labor market is anticipated in the Public Administration & Education sector, with a reported Net Employment Outlook of +22%. ​“More companies are investing in employee training to plug the skill gaps in their workforce,” noted Ms Teo. “Foreseeing demand for education services to continue growing, firms in the Public Administration & Education sector plan to hire to ensure they have sufficient manpower.”​Meanwhile, Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector employers report a healthy Outlook of +15%, strengthening by 9 percentage points from the last quarter. Standing at +12%, employers in the Mining & Construction sector report their strongest hiring Outlook in four years. Similarly, the Outlook in the Transportation & Utilities sector is +12%, the strongest in two years. The weakest Outlook of +3% is reported by Manufacturing sector employers, which improved by 3 percentage points quarter-on-quarter but declined by 11 percentage points year-on-year.​Hiring prospects improve in six of the seven sectors quarter-over-quarter, and also strengthen in five sectors when compared with last year at this time. Compared with the last quarter, the most notable increase is recorded in the Transportation & Utilities sector, which improved by 19 percentage points.​Employers all four organization size categories forecast payroll gains in the first quarter of 2020. The strongest hiring pace is expected by Large employers (+26%), while Micro employers report the weakest hiring intention with an Outlook of +2%.​Employers in all seven Asia Pacific countries and territories expect to add to headcounts in the coming quarter. Hiring outlooks strengthen in three countries and territories quarter-over-quarter, but also weaken in three. For the seventh consecutive quarter, the strongest Asia Pacific hiring prospects are reported in Japan (+25%). Meanwhile, Chinese employers report the most cautious Outlook in the region (+6%).​NOTE:Net Employment Outlook: This figure is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating total employment to increase and subtracting from this the percentage expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter. To view complete results for the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.sg/meos. The next ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey will be released on 10 March 2020 and will forecast labor market activity for the second quarter of 2020. The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is available free of charge to the public through their local Manpower representative in participating countries. To receive an e-mail notification when the survey is available each quarter, please complete an online subscription form here.​About ManpowerGroup SingaporeEstablished in 1995 in Singapore, ManpowerGroup works with a range of manufacturing, resources, mining, transport and logistics, government, blue chip investment and retail banks, IT vendors and outsourcers, telecoms service providers and infrastructure, utilities and engineering services companies. In Singapore, the ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup® Solutions, Manpower®, Experis®, and Right Management®. More information on ManpowerGroup Singapore is available at: www.manpowergroup.com.sg​ About ManpowerGroupManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across 80 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. In 2019, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the tenth year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies for the seventeenth year, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup is powering the future of work: www.manpowergroup.com ​

​​If your job interviews aren't resulting in job offers, you could be sabotaging yourself.​Job interviews are the last step to receiving a job offer. That doesn't mean every interview will land you an offer, not every interviewee can get the job. However, if you are going to a lot of interviews and not getting any job offers, it's possible that one of these five things could be holding you back.Bad first impression If you make a bad first impression, you could still land the job, but it will be a very difficult hurdle to overcome. Things that can contribute to a bad first impression? Showing up late for the interview, not dressing appropriately, or not acting professionally during the interview. Before interview process begins, rehearse your interviewing skills with someone who can, and will, give you honest feedback.You don't explain why you're qualified for the job Employers seek job candidates with specific qualifications relevant to the position. Discover what qualifications your interviewer is looking for. If you don't have the required qualifications, then don't waste your time or theirs. Instead, search for jobs for which you are qualified, and practice explaining how you are qualified to hold the job.You talk negatively about your current or previous employer What goes on in the mind of an interviewer when she hears trash talk against a former or previous employer is, “Will this person talk bad about me or my company?” Granted, there are some bad employers out there, but learn to talk about your employment experiences tactfully so that you don't have to go negative.You haven't researched the company If you have not researched the company, it will show. Put some legwork upfront and learn something about the organization that you can discuss in the job interview. Being prepared will demonstrate to the person interviewing you that you have come prepared and are engaged in the process.You don't ask questions about the job If you have taken the steps necessary to demonstrate your qualifications for the job and have researched the company, you should have no problem coming up with  a few strategic questions to ask your interviewer about the job. Write them down before you leave your house, and keep them handy so that you can refer to them during the interview if you get stuck. When interviewing for a position, take the time to make a good first impression, research the company, ask good questions, rehearse your job qualifications and keep the conversation positive. ​This article is contributed by Right Management, www.rightmanagement.sg, the global career experts within the ManpowerGroup.

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises eager to fast-track their expansion are paying top dollar for the required talent, inspired by startups that have been able to grow their businesses rapidly with the aid of highly qualified hires.In one instance, a Singapore company in a niche sector was prepared to fork out S$300,000 a year for an experienced head of human resources, about S$80,000 more than what most companies would pay. Another local firm in the technology space, hoping to bring in a senior finance professional with global corporate finance expertise, offered to pay 15 to 25 per cent more than the industry average of S$250,000 to S$350,000 per annum - plus an equity package.

​Workers need to stay curious about their jobs as industries continue to undergo digital transformation. The eagerness to learn could be key to bridging the widening skills gap in Singapore, said academics, human resource consultants and industry professionals...​

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises eager to fast-track their expansion are paying top dollar for the required talent, inspired by startups that have been able to grow their businesses rapidly with the aid of highly qualified hires.In one instance, a Singapore company in a niche sector was prepared to fork out S$300,000 a year for an experienced head of human resources, about S$80,000 more than what most companies would pay. Another local firm in the technology space, hoping to bring in a senior finance professional with global corporate finance expertise, offered to pay 15 to 25 per cent more than the industry average of S$250,000 to S$350,000 per annum - plus an equity package.

​Singapore’s resilient labor market is starting to come under strain as the trade-reliant economy struggles in the face of global pressures. Retrenchments are rising, companies are more cautious raising wages, and it’s getting harder for those who lose their jobs to find new work. While the central bank is optimistic of some recovery in the economy in upcoming quarters, there are signs the employment outlook may continue to deteriorate.

​These days, as chairman and chief executive of ManpowerGroup, a world-leading workplace solutions company, Mr Jonas Prising's challenge is disruption of another sort - the vast structural changes happening in the world of work, whether on factory floors, back offices or even outsourcing companies as automation, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things combine to make the most profound changes to the working environment since Ford Motor invented the assembly line 106 years ago this month.

​The difficulty of matching job seekers with suitable vacancies is not new but has been a major focus in recent years as the nature of work is changing more quickly due to disruption. Much time, effort and money have been poured into pushing Singaporeans to upgrade their skills and adapt to new jobs as the economy restructures.

​No sending of emails after work hours. No phone calls or text messages, too. While some employees in Singapore would love it if such restrictions, which are common in Western countries, exist here, it is unlikely to happen anytime soon. The obstacles are the need to maintain a competitive economy and the entrenched culture among workers here to be available round the clock, human resource experts said.

Singapore’s Net Employment Outlook is +4%, the weakest reported in two yearsAcross seven industry sectors, employers in the Public Admin & Education sector report the strongest Outlook of +19%Employers in Singapore and China report the weakest Net Employment Outlooks in the Asia Pacific regionSINGAPORE (10 SEPTEMBER 2019) – Based on the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey results, job seekers can expect a tighter job market in the fourth quarter of 2019. Out of nearly 670 Singaporean employers surveyed on their hiring plans for the upcoming quarter, 13% anticipate an increase in payrolls, 8% forecast a decrease and 77% expect no change. The resulting Net Employment Outlook is +4% after accounting for seasonal variation – the weakest outlook reported in two years. Hiring prospects decline by 7 percentage points when compared with the previous quarter and are 8 percentage points weaker in comparison with this time one year ago. ​Ms. Linda Teo, Country Manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, says, “Global and regional trade conflicts, plus warnings of a possible recession, have dampened business confidence in Singapore. Anticipating that business will be affected by the economic downturn, companies are limiting their hiring activity. Some companies are also turning to upskilling their employees instead of hiring new staff.”​Employers in five of the seven industry sectors expect to add to payrolls during the forthcoming quarter. The strongest labor market is anticipated by Public Administration & Education sector employers, reporting an Outlook of +19%.​Elsewhere, employers in Mining & Construction and the Wholesale & Retail Trade sectors expect moderate hiring activity, reporting Outlooks of +10% and +8%, respectively. The Outlook in the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector remains relatively stable from last quarter at +5%. Employers in the Manufacturing sector and Services sector report their weakest hiring outlook in a decade, which is at 0% and +2%, respectively. Meanwhile, Transportation & Utilities sector employers expect to trim payrolls, reporting an Outlook of -5%.​Compared to last quarter, hiring intentions weaken in five sectors, most notably in the Services and Transportation & Utilities sectors, where the Outlook declined by 16 percentage points and 13 percentage points respectively.​In a comparison with the final quarter of 2018, hiring intentions weaken in all seven industry sectors. Public Administration & Education sector employers report the most noteworthy decline of 17 percentage points, and Outlooks decrease by 12 percentage points in two sectors ꟷ the Manufacturing sector and the Transportation & Utilities sector. Hiring intentions are considerably weaker in the Services sector where employers report a decline of 10 percentage points, and in the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector with a decrease of 9 percentage points.​“While job opportunities may be limited, there remain pockets of opportunity as employers are still hiring to fill the skill gaps in their workforce. Job seekers, especially IT talent, with trending skills such as digital marketing and blockchain will find it easier to secure a job as companies move towards digitalizing their processes,” says Ms. Teo.​Payroll gains are forecast for all eight Asia Pacific countries and territories in the next three months. Hiring plans improve in three countries and territories when compared with the third quarter of 2019 but weaken in four. The strongest labor market in the region is anticipated by Japanese employers for the sixth consecutive quarter, while the weakest Outlooks are reported in both China and Singapore.​NOTE:Net Employment Outlook: This figure is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating total employment to increase and subtracting from this the percentage expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter. To view complete results for the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.sg/meos. ​About ManpowerGroup SingaporeEstablished in 1996 in Singapore, ManpowerGroup works with a range of manufacturing, resources, mining, transport and logistics, government, blue chip investment and retail banks, IT vendors and outsourcers, telecoms service providers and infrastructure, utilities and engineering services companies. In Singapore, the ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup® Solutions, Manpower®, Experis®, and Right Management®. More information on ManpowerGroup Singapore is available at: www.manpowergroup.com.sg​About ManpowerGroupManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across 80 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. In 2019, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the tenth year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies for the seventeenth year, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup is powering the future of work: www.manpowergroup.com​