Global hiring in APAC expands by 57%

Global hiring in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 57% in 2023, as a new report from Deel showed that the global remote workforce continues to expand despite return-to-office mandates.

The APAC region maintained its spot as the fastest-growing hiring region that are employing individuals domestically and abroad, according to Deel's State of Global Hiring Report.

APAC tied with Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, which are both followed by Northern America and then Latin American regions.

Overall, the number of digital nomads globally has reached 250,000, which Deel said is a "thirty-fivefold increase" from the 7,000 in 2020.

"Global hiring is no longer a unique phenomenon. With expanding markets and increased mobility options, there are endless possibilities to explore opportunities that extend beyond country borders and as a result, the war for global top talent remains heated," said Karen Ng, Regional Head of Expansion & Market Lead Singapore, Hong Kong, ASEAN, India, in a statement.

"Businesses are also increasingly recognising the value of these diverse talents and global perspectives, and our findings show that the APAC region particularly stands out as a beacon for innovation, collaboration, and unparalleled opportunities."

These findings come despite the widespread push from executives over the past year to return onsite as the pandemic's impact on workplaces continue to decline.

Previous research even showed that APAC is "leading the way to the return to office" based on office utilisation rate in early 2023.

Singapore top global hirer in SEA

Meanwhile, Deel's report also revealed that Singapore is the fastest growing Southeast Asian country in terms of global hiring in 2023.

Singaporean firms are mostly hiring employees in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, France, and India, according to the report.

These firms are mostly hiring for tech roles, such as Software Developers and Engineers, as well as Account Executives and Managers (Sales), Graphic Designers, Accountants, and Customer Support/Success Staff.

But Singaporeans also emerged as a highly sought-after talent by many employers across the world and are mostly being hired for similar tech and sales roles.

Deel's report said the number of foreign companies hiring Singapore talents went up by 35% in 2023.

"While APAC is the fastest-growing region to hire foreign workers both domestically and abroad, our data highlighted that Singapore talents are also highly sought after globally – further emphasizing how the global workforce is becoming the mainstream," Ng said.

Deel's findings from its handled employee contracts across more than 160 countries throughout 2023.