There Are 1.64 Vacancies for Every Jobseeker In Singapore. So Why Do Some Find It So Difficult To Find A Job?

There were 1.64 job vacancies for every job seeker in Singapore, as at the end of December 2024. This means there were 77,500 job openings available.

This statistic is not unique to 2024 either, and job vacancies in Singapore have consistently outnumbered job seekers. The last time there were more jobseekers in than job openings was 2020 – quite understandably as the pandemic was raging on. 

Nevertheless, we can see that even a decade ago, there were more job vacancies than jobseekers.

So, why do some jobseekers still find it so difficult to land a job in Singapore?

#1 Newly Created Positions Made Up Over 45% Of Job Vacancies

Close to half of new job openings were for newly created positions. This might explain why some jobseekers may lack the skills and experience for such jobs.

As we look deeper into the statistics, we can see that over 75% of vacancies in Information & Communications were for newly created positions. While this reflects the dynamism and resilience of the sector, it also means that jobseekers in the industry who may not have qualifications or experience in such roles may find it harder to land the jobs.

Similarly, the Professional Services industry saw 49.1% of vacancies being newly created positions, while the Financial & Insurance Services industry had 48.9% of vacancies in newly created positions.

Industries that were mainly replacing old positions were for Real Estate Services, Accommodation, and others in the chart below.

#2 Vacancies That Required Tertiary Education Are On The Rise

62.8% of job openings required a tertiary-level education in 2024. This is not only 1%-point higher than 2023, and over 12%-points higher compared to 10 years ago.

As a result, the share of PMET of roles among job openings are also on the up in the past few years, after dipping in 2020.

This might make it more challenging for certain groups of jobseekers to land the openings that are available or penetrate certain sectors. 

And, it could also be a reason of the greater support the Government has announced to upskill and reskill workers in Singapore – mainly through the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (SLFP) and Workfare Skills Support (WSS).

Nevertheless, it’s heartening to also see in the MOM report that 52.% of employers state that they would consider hiring candidates with education levels below the minimum qualification listed.

Read Also: Complete Guide To The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (SFLP)

#3 Percentage Of Vacancies Unfilled For 6 Months Or More Are Down

One positive sign is that there are fewer job openings that remain unfilled for 6 months or more in 2024.

Again, while this is a good sign, this may also mean more competition for certain roles.

#4 Jobs That Were Physically Strenuous Or Required Long-Working Hours Jobs Were Top Non-PMET Jobs Unfilled For At Least 6 Months

Of the non-PMET roles that remain unfilled for at least six months, those that were physically strenuous were among the top. This included:

– Bus Driver (5.8%)

– Cleaners (6.3%)

– Waiters (11.8%)

– Shop Sales Assistant (6.5%)

– Receptionists, Customer Service & Information Clerks (5.1%)

From this, we again tell that it would be challenging for certain groups of jobseekers to fill such jobs. For those who are older or with poorer health, these jobs may not be a consideration at all. Even for those who are able to fill these jobs, they may prefer other opportunities – creating more competition for certain types of jobs.

Read Also: What Is The Average Working Hours In Singapore For Full-Time And Part-Time Employees

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