​​The Net Employment Outlook for the final quarter of 2020 is -3%, a steep increase of 25 percentage points when compared with the last quarter. However, hiring plans remain 8 points weaker in a comparison with 4Q 2019.The strongest labor market is anticipated by Transportation & Utilities sector employers (+5%) while weakest is in Manufacturing sector (-12%)Most employers anticipate hiring activity to return to pre-COVID levels in 10 to 12 months (26%)Out of the 7 Asia Pacific countries and territories, the strongest regional Outlook is reported in Taiwan while the weakest is in Singapore. SINGAPORE (8 SEPTEMBER 2020) – Job seekers can expect a muted hiring climate for the upcoming October to December period, reveals latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey report. The survey, conducted against the backdrop of COVID-19, reflects the impact of the global health crisis on the local labor market. ​Of the 462 employers interviewed, 7% forecast an increase in payrolls, 10% anticipate a decrease and 73% do not expect any changes, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of -3% after seasonal adjustment. Compared to last quarter, hiring prospects improve sharply by 25 percentage points, but are 8 percentage points weaker when compared with the same time last year. ​Hiring activity is expected to gradually recover to pre-COVID-19 levels – 26% of employers forecast it will take 10 to 12 months, 22% anticipate it to return within the next 3 months and 19% expect this to take 4 to 9 months. Meanwhile, 16% of employers estimate it will take longer than a year. Fieldwork for the survey was conducted during the last two weeks of July 2020.​When asked about existing members of the workforce that have been placed on a job retention or furlough scheme, 15% of companies suggest they plan to bring them back full-time, however, a portion (16%) had indicated that some of them will be let go.​On the results, ManpowerGroup Singapore Country Manager, Ms Linda Teo, comments, “While there continues to be a strong demand of IT and digital talents due to accelerating digitalization, companies are also leveraging on the subsidies provided under the SGUnited Traineeships Program to hire talents for various business functions.”​Employers in four of the seven industry sectors forecast hiring gains in the fourth quarter. The strongest labor market is expected to be the Transportation & Utilities sector, with a Net Employment Outlook of +5%. Elsewhere, employers in Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector anticipate limited job gains, reporting an Outlook of +3%, while Outlooks of +1% are reported in both the Mining & Construction sector and the Public Administration & Education sector. In contrast, employers in Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Services sectors report gloomy hiring intentions, with Outlooks of -12%, -7% and -1% respectively.​Compared to the previous quarter, hiring sentiments improve in six of the seven industry sectors, with Mining & Construction sector’s employers reporting the steepest increase of 58 percentage points. This is followed by the Services sector, where the Outlook is 33 percentage points stronger. ​Improvements in job prospects are also expected in the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector and the Manufacturing sector, where the reported hiring Outlooks have increased by 12 and 9 percentage points respectively. However, hiring sentiment weakens in the Public Administration & Education sector, declining by 7 percentage points.​“With the opening of the economy in Phase Two, companies are expected to step up hiring of locals to fill jobs left vacant by Malaysians unable to return to work due to travel restrictions during the survey period,” Ms Teo added.​Employers in all four organization size categories expect to reduce payrolls during the next three months, most notably in the Large-size category (-10%). The most resilient Outlook of -2% is reported by Small employers.​Employers in five Asia Pacific countries and territories expect to add to payrolls during the upcoming quarter, while staffing levels are expected to decline in two. In a quarter-over-quarter comparison, Outlooks weaken in three countries and territories but strengthen in four. When compared with last year at this time, hiring prospects weaken in six countries and territories while remaining unchanged in the seventh. The strongest regional Outlook is reported in Taiwan (+20%), while the weakest and only negative hiring climates are expected in Hong Kong (-2%) and Singapore (-3%).​To view complete results for the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.sg/meos.​NOTE: Net Employment Outlook: This figure is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating total employment to increase and subtracting from this the percentage expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter.​Please note that all data discussed in the commentary is seasonally adjusted, unless stated otherwise.​The next ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey will be released on 8 December 2020 and will forecast labor market activity for the final quarter of 2020. The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is available free of charge to the public through their local Manpower representative in participating countries. To receive an e-mail notification when the survey is available each quarter, please complete an online subscription form here.​About ManpowerGroup Singapore  Established in 1995 in Singapore, ManpowerGroup works with a range of manufacturing, resources, mining, transport and logistics, government, blue chip investment and retail banks, IT vendors and outsourcers, telecoms service providers and infrastructure, utilities and engineering services companies. In Singapore, the ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through Manpower®, Experis®, and Talent Solutions. More information on ManpowerGroup Singapore is available at:  www.manpowergroup.com.sg ​​About ManpowerGroup  ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions – creates substantial value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2020 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the eleventh year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent. www.manpowergroup.com.  ​​

​​Singapore employers report Net Employment Outlook of -28% for Q3 2020 - the weakest in 11 years.66% of employers expect hiring to return to pre-COVID-19 levels within the next 12 months, with over a quarter surveyed estimating that it will take 4 to 9 months.Employers in six of the seven sectors expect payrolls to decline during the coming quarter.Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector, Manufacturing sector, Services sector and Wholesale & Retail Trade sector report their weakest hiring intentions since 2009.SINGAPORE (9 JUNE 2020) – Employers in Singapore report bleak hiring outlook for Q3 when surveyed during the circuit breaker, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the labor market in Singapore.​Singapore employers were asked how do they anticipate total employment at their company to change during the July – September period as compared to the current quarter. Out of 266 surveyed, 11% of employers forecast an increase in headcount, 38% anticipate a decrease and 46% expect no change. The resulting Net Employment Outlook is -28% after accounting for seasonal variation.​These are the weakest hiring intentions reported since 2009, declining by 37 percentage points when compared with the previous quarter and by 40 percentage points in comparison with the third quarter of 2019.​66% of employers surveyed expect hiring levels to return to pre-COVID-19 levels within the next 12 months. Hiring activity is expected to recover gradually – 20% of employers estimate this will take within 3 months, 25% predict 4 to 9 months, 22% expect it to take 10 to 12 months. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents estimate it will take more than a year.​On the results, Ms Linda Teo, Country Manager, ManpowerGroup Singapore, comments, “COVID-19’s impact on businesses has affected hiring sentiments for the next few months. Most employers are putting non-critical hiring on hold and focusing on streamlining their current headcounts instead during this unprecedented time.”​Employers in six of the seven sectors expect payrolls to decline during the coming quarter. The weakest labor market is forecast to be the Mining & Construction sector with a reported Net Employment Outlook of -57%, which is also the weakest Outlook reported since conducting the survey in Singapore in 2003.​Weak hiring prospects are also reported in the Services and Manufacturing sectors as well, with reported Outlooks of -35% and -21% respectively. Elsewhere, employers in Finance, Insurance & Real Estate and Transportation & Utilities sectors report Outlooks of -3% and -1%. Meanwhile, employers in the Public Administration & Education sector report modest hiring plans with an Outlook of +10%.​Compared to the previous quarter, hiring intentions weakened in six of the seven sectors, most notably in the Mining & Construction sector, where the Outlook sharply decreases by 67 percentage points. Hiring activity is also expected to decline significantly in the Services sector, where the forecast is 47 percentage points weaker. Meanwhile, employers in four sectors – Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector, Manufacturing sector, Services sector and Wholesale & Retail Trade sector – reported their weakest forecasts since 2009. In contrast, employers in Public Administration & Education report relatively stable hiring intentions when compared quarter on quarter but Outlook is weaker by 14 percentage points when compared to last year.​“Amidst the bleak hiring climate, job seekers can still find pockets of opportunities, especially in the Public Administration & Education sector due to ongoing government initiatives to stimulate hiring and upskilling during this challenging time. Job seekers finding difficulty in landing a job in current market conditions can consider upgrading their skills to better position themselves when hiring activity picks up,” says Ms Teo.​Employers in three of the four organization sizes report weaker hiring plans during the next quarter. Companies under the Micro category report the positive hiring intention of +3%, while hiring climate is the weakest in Medium-sized organizations, with a reported Outlook of -34%.​“With most companies putting non-essential hiring on hold, micro-sized firms face less competition in hiring the in-demand talent they need,” added Ms Teo.​Employers in four Asia Pacific countries and territories expect to grow payrolls during the next three months, while a decrease in payrolls is anticipated in two, with no change in one. Hiring plans weaken in six of the seven countries and territories when compared with the previous quarter, while remaining unchanged in one. In a year-over-year comparison, Outlooks weaken in all seven. Japanese employers anticipate the strongest labor market in the region, while the weakest hiring activity is expected in Singapore and Australia.​NOTE:Net Employment Outlook: This figure is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating total employment to increase and subtracting from this the percentage expecting to see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter.To view complete Singapore results for the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.sg/meosTo view global survey results, visit: www.manpowergroup.com/meosThe next ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey will be released on 8 September 2020 and will forecast labor market activity for the second quarter of 2020. The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is available free of charge to the public through their local Manpower representative in participating countries.​About ManpowerGroup SingaporeEstablished in 1995 in Singapore, ManpowerGroup works with a range of manufacturing, resources, mining, transport and logistics, government, blue chip investment and retail banks, IT vendors and outsourcers, telecoms service providers and infrastructure, utilities and engineering services companies.