New report reveals prevailing recruitment, retention challenges
Employers across Singapore will be shifting to a skills-based hiring approach in the coming year with a particular focus on soft skills amid challenges in recruitment, according to a new report.
The report, released by Robert Walters, revealed that employers are moving away from the traditional credential-based hiring model in 2025 as they re-assess their recruitment priorities and processes.
According to the report, employers are putting more value on talents with:
The findings indicate that more employers in Singapore are joining the trend of skills-based hiring, a recruitment model advocated by various local experts.
In fact, 79% of HR professionals surveyed in another Robert Walters report indicated that they would value skills assessments over traditional hiring processes.
The highlight on skills-based hiring comes as employers continue to face challenges in recruitment, with a third saying there is a lack of applications or candidate supply.
More than half of the respondents also said salary and benefit expectations are "too high" for them (58%), and that applicants lack industry experience (56%).
According to the salary report, flexible working hours are the most preferred way of working by Singaporeans (82%). Other employees said they want:
Employers are also struggling with retention, with many respondents citing challenges such as:
Monty Sujanani, Country Manager at Robert Walters Singapore, said flexibility will be the key to address the diverse needs of the workforce.
"To attract and retain top talent, companies need to adopt a strategic approach to address the need for work-life balance, meaningful work and professional growth," Sujanani said in a statement.
"Companies who create a positive and engaging work environment that fosters employee satisfaction and well-being, as well as provide opportunities for learning and career advancement, will have a competitive advantage."
The call to embrace flexibility in workplaces comes as the Singaporean government continues to push for related benefits. It recently mandated employers to formally consider requests for flexible work arrangements (FWA) from employees, including flexi-place, flexi-time, and flex-load.
Robert Walters' Salary Survey 2025 polled more than 300 professionals and companies in Singapore to look at their expectations or concerns for the year to come.
