Which industries are most popular with Malaysians?
The number of Malaysians applying in Singapore doubled year-on-year, according to ManpowerGroup country manager Linda Teo.
Teo said the job applications from Malaysians went up in the December 2023 to January 2024 period, double the figures in December 2022 to January 2023, the New Straits Times (NST) reported.
According to Teo, there was an observed rise in applications from those residing beyond Johor, with the most popular industries including retail, food and beverage, and administration.
"Jobs in corporate settings with regular working hours are preferred, especially among those who intend to commute between two countries for work," Teo said as quoted by NST.
"For Malaysians possessing relevant technical skills, there is a notable interest in positions within the engineering and manufacturing industries."
Teo attributed the increase in Malaysian applicants to a stronger Singapore dollar.
"The strengthening of the Singapore dollar against the ringgit over the past few months has led to a surge of Malaysian job seekers applying for positions in Singapore," she said.
"Increased income opportunities due to the stronger Singapore dollar are among the key motivating factors."
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Hiring sentiments in Singapore
The statement comes as latest findings from ManpowerGroup Singapore revealed that hiring sentiment in the city-state is on a decline.
In the first quarter, only 44% of employers expected an increase in hiring, a figure that further went down to 41% in the second quarter.
According to the report, the industries with the strongest hiring intentions for the second quarter include financials and real estate, healthcare and life sciences, as well as energy and utilities.