Singaporeans set sights on career growth, leave stagnant posts: report

Skill development key to career advancement.

Nearly a third of workers in Singapore resigned from their jobs due to a lack of career progression, with close to half showing strong career aspirations, according to a report by Randstad Singapore.

Data from its 2024 Global Workmonitor report showed about seven in 10 were looking to take more managerial positions, which is 21% more than the global average.

42% said they are planning to leave if not offered a promotion while one in five employees had resigned due to lack of training.

Randstad found upskilling to be key to advancement, revealing a rift between employee perception of training and what employers offer. The majority or 71% of workers said their employers provide the training they want while 53% said employers actively helped them develop skills for the future.

Meanwhile, 44% of respondents said they were the ones responsible for upskilling while also expecting employers to meet them halfway.

AI was the top skill Singaporeans are eager to develop, followed by IT and tech literacy; management and leadership skills; programming and coding; as well as well-being and mindfulness.

IT and tech literacy (29%), data science/analytics (29%), management and leadership skills (23%), programming/coding (22%) and well-being and mindfulness (21%) followed.

“The strong ambition for career advancement highlights the importance for companies in Singapore to invest in talent development and create clear pathways for career advancement,” said Jaya Dass, managing director of permanent recruitment at Randstad Asia Pacific.

“By offering opportunities for learning and development, coupled with transparent promotion possibilities, companies can attract and retain top talent in today’s competitive job market," Dass added.

The report surveyed 759 working adults in the city-state.