4% of Singapore bosses plan to cut office headcount in 4Q13

But hiring intentions improved for some.

According to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results released today by Manpower Singapore, results show that employers intend to add to their payrolls in quarter 4 2013, with Singaporean employers reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +20%. 

Hiring intentions has improved slightly by 6 and 2 percentage points from 3Q 2013 and 4Q 2012, respectively.

“Employability skills remain a challenge. Many acknowledge that there is an abundance of talents, but many of them lack the soft skills that are increasingly necessary as Singapore becomes even more interconnected to the global marketplace.” says Linda Teo, Country Manager of Manpower Singapore.

Singaporean employers report steady hiring plans for the 4th quarter where 25% of employers expecting to increase  staffing levels, 4% anticipating a decrease and 65% forecasting no change.

“The forecast for the Singapore economy has been positive and companies have been encouraged to increase the productivity within organizations using technology. With our experience, we have been working closely with organizations to find the right talents,” said Ms. Linda Teo, Country Manager of Manpower Singapore.