Recruitment firm Hays said candidates need realistic salary expectations or risk pricing themselves out of the jobs market.
That is because employers are being more cautiously optimistic and will not pay over market-rate salaries to potential candidates, regardless of their specialised skills.
General Manager of Hays in Singapore, Chris Mead, said employers will continue to invest heavily in talent as companies in Asia embark on a new leg of expansion in emerging markets.
At the same time, they are unwilling to consider candidates that they feel are pushing a salary agenda.
He said it is important for candidates to keep their salary expectations in line with the market as employers will only increase rates so far.
Mr Mead said the outlook in Singapore is positive for candidates who want career opportunities within global, progressive organisations - provided they remain realistic in terms of compensation and benefits.
However, there is one area that is bucking the trend.
Candidates who are are looking for specific jobs and in skill short areas can more or less choose their salary and package.
This includes those with digital or e-commerce marketing and brand management expertise.
Another example is the accountancy & finance sector, where employers view candidates as crucial hires with high-level exposure.
Employers are therefore willing to pay competitive salaries in most cases, although the rare skills these roles demand can often make the recruiting timetable longer.
Overall, Mr Mead advised candidates to be open to new opportunities and review their options in the market.
- Channel New Asia
Jun 24, 2011
10,000 to get skills upgrading by WDA
Some 10,000 port industry employees will stand to benefit from training and skills upgrading under the first Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) collaboration among industry players.
This was made possible by an agreement signed on Friday by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), PSA Corporation and Jurong Port.
The WDA said the framework will provide nationally-recognised and structured training and certification for port employees.
It will start with mobile equipment operators and lashing specialists whose job includes securing containers on vessels using lashing equipment.
Previously, industry employees took stand-alone courses accredited by parties such as the Ministry of Manpower and Institute of Technical Education.
Wong Hong Kuan, the Chief Executive of WDA said: "If they upgrade themselves and take on greater job responsibilities as their skill sets allow them to, and with the WSQ Framework, they can look at much better pay prospects and growth prospects as well."
The WDA said the industry has good job prospects and expects to create another 5,000 jobs in the next three years.
The agency has already committed some S$8 million to train about 10,000 workers over the next three years.
Labour chief Lim Swee Say commented:"Education background is just the starting point in our lives but it should not be the factor to determine our ending point in our lives.
Because along the way, we'll pick up new skills, new competencies, and develop a new attitude. So the WSQ system is skill-based, competency based."
- Channel News Asia
This was made possible by an agreement signed on Friday by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), PSA Corporation and Jurong Port.
The WDA said the framework will provide nationally-recognised and structured training and certification for port employees.
It will start with mobile equipment operators and lashing specialists whose job includes securing containers on vessels using lashing equipment.
Previously, industry employees took stand-alone courses accredited by parties such as the Ministry of Manpower and Institute of Technical Education.
Wong Hong Kuan, the Chief Executive of WDA said: "If they upgrade themselves and take on greater job responsibilities as their skill sets allow them to, and with the WSQ Framework, they can look at much better pay prospects and growth prospects as well."
The WDA said the industry has good job prospects and expects to create another 5,000 jobs in the next three years.
The agency has already committed some S$8 million to train about 10,000 workers over the next three years.
Labour chief Lim Swee Say commented:"Education background is just the starting point in our lives but it should not be the factor to determine our ending point in our lives.
Because along the way, we'll pick up new skills, new competencies, and develop a new attitude. So the WSQ system is skill-based, competency based."
- Channel News Asia
Jun 2, 2011
More professionals here likely to job-hop in next three months
More professionals in Singapore will be likely to job-hop in the next three months compared to their counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a survey by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.
The survey - which polled more than 2,800 workers - showed that 61 per cent of Singaporeans are looking to change jobs in the period ahead, compared to 57 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong, 56 per cent in Malaysia and 52 per cent in Thailand.
The figures indicate that professionals are optimistic about the job market, said Ms Andrea Ross, managing director at Robert Walters Singapore & Malaysia. However, the challenge will be ensuring that appropriate roles are available, she added.
And with so many professional looking to move, employers will likely face an increase in staff turnover and greater pressure to retain their top talent.
The poll also revealed that among the respondents from Singapore, 24 per cent are hoping to move jobs in the next 3 to 6 months, 7 per cent of respondents are hoping to move in the next 6 to 12 months, and 8 per cent are looking to move in 12 to 18 months.
- TODAY newspaper
The survey - which polled more than 2,800 workers - showed that 61 per cent of Singaporeans are looking to change jobs in the period ahead, compared to 57 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong, 56 per cent in Malaysia and 52 per cent in Thailand.
The figures indicate that professionals are optimistic about the job market, said Ms Andrea Ross, managing director at Robert Walters Singapore & Malaysia. However, the challenge will be ensuring that appropriate roles are available, she added.
And with so many professional looking to move, employers will likely face an increase in staff turnover and greater pressure to retain their top talent.
The poll also revealed that among the respondents from Singapore, 24 per cent are hoping to move jobs in the next 3 to 6 months, 7 per cent of respondents are hoping to move in the next 6 to 12 months, and 8 per cent are looking to move in 12 to 18 months.
- TODAY newspaper
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