Hays Unveils 2025 Asia Salary Guide - Latest Singapore Recruitment Trends, Salary Benchmarks and More

In Asia: Organisations are powering through adversity 

2024 marked a year of uncertainty, during which organisations had to balance a need to streamline headcounts with ongoing skill shortages brought about by disruptive technology such as AI and automation. As of this survey, confidence levels among working professionals and leaders in Asia remain cautious, with 41 per cent of respondents expressing pessimism over the economic climate for the next two to five years. 

Sentiments around future economic growth were most negative in China (63 per cent) followed by Japan (56 per cent) and Hong Kong (41 per cent). In contrast, Southeast Asia showed higher levels of optimism, led by Malaysia (30 per cent) and followed by Thailand (27 per cent) and Singapore (22 per cent). 

Even so, headcount projections show a modest increase, with 46 per cent of organisations in Asia planning to grow their workforce in 2025, compared to 44 per cent in 2024. This increase was most prevalent in Japan, with 56 per cent of organisations expecting to increase headcount this year – a 10 per cent increase from 2024. 

This comes in response to increasing concern over critical skill gaps within the workforce. 62 per cent of organisations in Asia experienced moderate to extreme skill shortages in 2024. Of these, Japan and Thailand both faced the most trouble with talent deficits (71 per cent). 

“Businesses are signalling a willingness to address these shortages this year; 27 per cent of organisations chose employee recruitment as a HR investment focus in 2025,” said Marc Burrage, Managing Director for Hays Asia. “A further 32 per cent were committed to improving employee retention, underlining a need to reduce lost knowledge, hiring expenses and missed revenue opportunities.” 

Lack of future opportunities top reason working professionals in Singapore are leaving 

Organisations have cause to be concerned over turnover. While the economic downturn of 2024 saw more working professionals prioritising job security, that sentiment has shifted for 2025. 57 per cent of professionals in Singapore are looking, or are planning to look for a new job this year, over double the number of professionals who switched jobs in 2024 (20 per cent). 

These statistics closely mirror desires to change careers this year across Asia, which averages at 55 per cent. Professionals in Japan were most likely to leave their current workplace (66 per cent) followed by Malaysia (62 per cent) and Thailand (61 per cent). 

When pressed on their reasons to leave, 43 per cent of professionals in Asia highlighted a lack of future opportunities at their current workplace, up from 35 per cent in 2024. These were followed by a lack of job security (22 per cent), low salary (15 per cent), a desire for greater challenges in their roles (15 per cent) and poor work-life balance (15 per cent). 

“Working professionals in Asia are more motivated than ever to find upward mobility in their careers. Leaders need to rethink their approach to leadership pipelines, upskilling programs, and internal mobility, ensuring they offer clear pathways to advancement that today’s workforce demands,” said Marc. 

Meanwhile, their expectations for increments remain conservative. In the next 12 months, the majority of candidates across Asia expect increments of ‘between 2.5 to 5 per cent’ (30 per cent), followed by no change in salary (22 per cent), and finally ‘increase by up to 2.4 per cent’ (17 per cent).  

These align closely to organisational projections, with most hiring managers expecting to give increments ‘between 2.5 and 5 per cent’ (34 per cent), followed by ‘increase by up to 2.4 per cent (23 per cent) and finally no change in salary (23 per cent). 

Professionals in Singapore enjoy the most access to flexible working benefits 

While western markets are beginning to embrace return-to-office policies, organisations in Singapore continue to offer working professionals unparalleled access to flexible work arrangements. According to the survey, 66 per cent of professionals in Singapore described their work environment as hybrid, the highest in Asia. In comparison, Japan follows with 61 per cent, and Malaysia with 54 per cent. 

This flexibility aligns with professional expectations, with 60 per cent citing flexible work as a top benefit. Additionally, 54 per cent consider flexible work arrangements an important Employer Value Proposition. The survey also found that most professionals in Singapore with flexible work options spend three days a week in the office (32 per cent), followed by those who spend four days a week in the office (16 per cent). 

“One in three professionals in Singapore chose to stay with their current employer due to the availability of hybrid work, underscoring the importance of flexible work arrangements for organisations aiming to enhance their attraction and retention strategies,” said Marc. 

A copy of the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide is available here. 

For more information contact:

Sonel Singh, Head of Marketing, Hays Southeast Asia
T: +60 3 7890 6351
E: sonel.singh@hays.com.my

About Hays Singapore  

Hays Specialist Recruitment Pte Ltd, Singapore ("Hays Singapore") is one of Singapore's leading recruitment companies in recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people across a wide range of industries and professions.  

Hays has been in Singapore for over a decade and boasts a track record of success and growth. We operate across the private and public sector, dealing in permanent and contract positions, and workforce solutions such as recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) in the following specialisms: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Engineering, Human Resources, Legal, Life Sciences, Marketing & Digital, Office Professionals, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales and Technology. We continue to strengthen our position in Asia with the world-leading ISO 9001:2015 certification in all our operational markets including Singapore, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. 

About Hays

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 30 June 2024, the Group employed over 11,100 staff operating from 236 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2024: 

• The Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million. 

• The Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles. 

• 13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW). 

• The temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees. 

• Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest. 

• Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the USA.