Nearly all Singaporeans surveyed seek purpose at work: report

Only one in five find meaning in what they do.

Singaporeans are increasingly seeking purpose in what they do, with 97% saying it is important for them to find meaning at work and more than half are already pursuing it, according to a survey by jobs_that_makesense Asia and Manpower.

A third of these working adults said that maintaining a positive work-life balance was important to their professional fulfillment. When looking for a new job, 48% of those surveyed identified salary and financial stability as the top priority although this was not driven by material wealth, but rather by a goal to improve comfort and provide security for their families. 

Despite the majority feeling the need for purpose in their work, only 20% in the city-state said they were “very satisfied” with the current level of meaning of their jobs.

“The report reveals that majority of Singapore believe that having more flexibility in their work improves their working conditions, giving them greater job fulfillment,” Linda Teo, country manager at Singapore for ManpowerGroup, said. “Employers who have been slow to roll out flexible work arrangements should take note or risk falling behind in the race for talent.”

The lack of available green and social-driven jobs (33%), needing to balance personal responsibilities with professional aspirations (20%) and the lack of skills and experience (15%) were among the top challenges respondents cited in their search for purposeful jobs.

Respondents listed ways organisations can do to enhance worker’s meaning at work, including enhancing working conditions with flexible hours; comprehensive health insurance and equal pay; advocating for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and other social causes; as well as creating more opportunities for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

The study polled 2,023 working adults and tertiary students set to enter the workforce in six Southeast Asian countries, including 494 respondents in Singapore.