1 in 3 Singaporeans planning to switch jobs in next 12 months

More workers planning to leave jobs now than during Great Resignation

1 in 3 Singaporeans planning to switch jobs in next 12 months

More Singaporeans are thinking of resigning in the next 12 months than during the Great Resignation as they put a greater premium on skills development, according to a new report.

The report from PwC, which surveyed 1,000 Singaporeans, found that 34% are planning to switch employers in the next 12 months.

This is higher than the global average of 28% and also greater the recorded departure plans during the Great Resignation (21%), the report found.

Nearly three-quarters of those planning on moving said skills in an important factor in their decision to stay or leave their current employer.

Greater focus on skills

The greater focus on skills comes amid higher uncertainty and rising workloads, according to Martijn Schouten, Workforce Transformation Leader, PwC Southeast Asia Consulting.

In the last 12 months, 47% of Singaporeans said their workload went up, while 68% experienced more change at work, including 44% who said their daily responsibilities have changed to a large or very large extent.

"As workers face heightened uncertainty, rising workloads and continue to face financial stress, they are prioritising skills growth and embracing new and emerging technologies such as Gen AI to turbocharge their growth and accelerate their careers," Schouten said in a statement.

Turning to gen AI

According to the report, 65% of Singaporeans also expect generative AI to make their time at work more efficient in the next 12 months.

Nearly six in 10 respondents (59%) also expect gen AI to lead to higher salaries in the workplace. Other benefits employees are anticipating include:

  • Creation of more opportunities to be creative (84%)
  • Improvement of work quality (83%)

"Employees are placing an increased premium on skills growth in a climate characterised by constant technological change," Schouten said. "Employers must ensure they are investing in their employees and technological platforms to mitigate employee pressures and retain the brightest talent."