You’re hired: Employment in Singapore set to be robust in Q4 2011

And guess which sector has the most optimistic hiring plans with a net employment outlook of +39%?

According to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results released by Manpower Singapore, employers anticipate a brisk hiring pace in Quarter 4 in 2011, with the most optimistic hiring plans reported by employers in the Public Administration & Education sector.

“Hiring plans remain bright and opportunities for job seekers remain strong in Singapore where one out of every three employers indicate they will add to their payrolls in the forthcoming quarter,” said Linda Teo, Country Manager of Manpower Singapore.

Singapore’s seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +30% indicates that the fourth-quarter hiring pace will remain active. With 33% of employers expecting to increase headcount, 2% predicting a decrease and 57% forecasting no change. Quarter-over-quarter, employers report a slight improvement of 2 percentage points in the Outlook, and hiring plans strengthen by 9 percentage points year-over-year

Positive headcount growth is forecast in all seven industry sectors during Quarter 4 2011. Employers in the Public Administration & Education sector report the most optimistic hiring plans, with a Net Employment Outlook of +39%. Mining & Construction sector employers predict a brisk hiring pace, with an Outlook of +31%, and the Transportation & Utilities sector Outlook stands at a healthy +27%.

In the Services sector, employers predict a robust hiring pace, reporting an Outlook of +36% while Transportation and Utilities reported a weaker outlook of +27%. The Net Employment Outlook for Wholesale & Retail Trade and Manufacturing sector’s Outlook is at +24%.

Quarter-over-quarter comparisons
Quarter-over-quarter, hiring intentions strengthen in three of the seven industry sectors. The Mining & Construction sector Outlook improves by 9 percentage points, and increases of 5 percentage points are reported in both the Public Administration & Education sector and the Services sector. Meanwhile, employers in three sectors report slightly weaker hiring plans, including the Transportation & Utilities sector, where the Outlook declines by 4 percentage points.

Year-over-year comparisons
Year-over-year, hiring prospects improve in six of the seven industry sectors. Transportation & Utilities sector employers report the most noteworthy increase of 18 percentage points, while in the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector, the Outlook strengthens by 12 percentage points. Improvements of 11 percentage points are reported in both the Mining & Construction sector and the Services sector, while the Outlook for the Public Administration & Education sector increases by 10 percentage points. In the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector, however, hiring plans weaken by 4 percentage points.