Find out if your skills are sought in Singapore

Internal Auditors, Site Engineers, Security Engineers, and Business Development Managers are just four of the many skills in demand in Singapore as the local jobs market is on the verge of a huge surge in activity in the first quarter of 2014.

With employer sentiment far more optimistic than in 2012-2013, there will be a good mix of both new and replacement roles in most sectors, and the focus will remain on hiring local Singaporean talent.

Once bonuses are awarded and new budgets are in place, vacancy activity will leap forward as candidates explore their options and employers recruit new and replacement talent.

Quality Internal Auditors are just one of the skills in demand. South-East Asia continues to move from strength to strength and given Singapore’s position as a regional hub, many multinational enterprises are building their regional internal audit centres here. Candidates with prior audit experience, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, multiple language skills, a willingness to travel extensively and the ability to work autonomously are particularly attractive to employers.

In the construction industry Site Engineers with qualifications recognized by the PE board are in particularly high demand as the governing bodies demand local or internationally recognized qualifications. In today’s market candidates have the upper hand in negotiation if they possess the relevant experience to match.

As more businesses move into the digital realm and companies face increased cyber threats in an increasingly complex environment, demand is high for Security Engineers in the IT sector. Demand is also driven by the continued focus of banks on increasing their efforts to comply with regulations.

Many employers will launch new ranges of products to expand their portfolio offering to their customers this year. As a result, Business Development Managers are in high demand. This role is seen as the key revenue generator for insurance companies. As a result, good talented candidates are in short supply and are often sourced directly from other insurers.

Contracting within banking and financial services is expected to gain even more traction in 2014. From private wealth clients up to large full service international banks, all employers are expanding their contract and temporary headcount to help with financial reporting and ongoing finance change.

Another trend impacting Singapore’s recruitment market is the growing use of temporary staff in the IT sector,which is a major change as traditionally the use of flexible workforce strategies was relatively low in Singapore compared to international standards.

These are just a few of the many skills in demand in Singapore; to see the full list view the latest Hays Quarterly Hotspots.