Temp-to-perm employment on the rise as manpower crunch intensifies

Trial periods are the new norm.

More companies in Singapore are opting to hire new employees on a temporary-to-permanent basis instead of committing directly to a permanent hire, according to the latest Hays Quarterly Report.

The report said that there is a growing trend for Singapore employers to trial employees on a temporary contract first before offering them a permanent full-time position.

“We are seeing a growing trend from companies in Singapore to hire candidates on a temporary-to-permanent basis. Employers have also come to recognise that they can benefit immensely from temporary support for both ongoing projects and maternity leave cover,” noted Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Asia.

She added that candidates are also becoming more willing to accept such an assignment in order to trial a position before committing to the organisation long-term.

“It’s an indication of high candidate confidence in Singapore’s tight talent market that professionals are open and willing to trial a job on a temporary basis before committing to it permanently. It also shows that jobseekers are becoming more discerning and are interested in more than just salary when looking for their next role – they want to make sure an organisation is the right cultural fit for them, and offers genuine career progression opportunities,” she said.