Singapore ranks 4th globally for talent competitiveness according to Hays Global Talent Tracker

Singapore, 29 October 2025 - A new report released by Hays, the global leader in specialist recruitment and workforce solutions, reveals how Singapore’s position in the global talent landscape is being shaped by a range of workforce and labour market factors. The report, which compares labour market performance across 35 locations, highlights both opportunities and risks in attracting, developing, and retaining skilled talent—offering valuable insights for business leaders and policymakers. 
 

 

Singapore’s global standing: strengths and challenges

  • Singapore ranks 4th out of 35 in global talent competitiveness, a measure of how effectively a market attracts, develops, and retains skilled workers. That ranking is better than Malaysia (11th), Hong Kong SAR (14th) and Thailand (24th) but behind China (2nd) and Japan (1st). 

  • The research shows that Singapore ranks 7th in talent innovation (a measure of a market’s ability to keep pace with technological change) and 9th in talent participation (a measure of how ready, resilient and ready a market’s workforce is) among the 35 markets assessed. 

  • Singapore (13th) is also foremost in Asia on talent development (a measure of how strong a market’s education and training systems are), ahead of Japan (18th), Hong Kong (25th), China (29th), Malaysia (31st) and Thailand (34th). 

  • Singapore (18th) is behind on talent value—Malaysia (1st), China (4th), Thailand (5th), Japan (6th) and Hong Kong (16th) all rank higher on cost competitiveness. 

  • While Singapore is poised for rapid growth in the life sciences, engineering and technology sectors, inclusion and demographic pressures mean continued progress will depend on bold reforms. 

“Hays’ findings show how the global landscape for talent is evolving at unprecedented speed, with countries investing strategically to build more innovative, resilient and future-ready workforces amid increasing economic uncertainty,” said Dirk Hahn, Chief Executive Officer of Hays. 

“As organisations navigate this complexity, the ability to identify and harness the right talent ecosystems will become a defining factor for long-term success.” 

“The findings reinforce there are many contributing factors to a strong workforce, and each market can and should consider that combination differently, but by understanding these trends, businesses can make smarter decisions about where to invest, grow and compete on the world stage.” 

 

Singapore: A global talent leader with room for growth

Hays’ research highlights a range of factors shaping the future of Singapore. When reviewing the Compound Annual Growth Rate of Gross Value Added (GVA CAGR) of local domestic sectors, life sciences, engineering and technology were identified as the fastest growing industries by 2030. 

Singapore is among a handful of markets that host thriving tech ecosystems and offer business-friendly environments that support innovation at speed. The compact size of the market offers a unique edge, making organisations more agile and better equipped to deploy and scale emerging technologies at pace. 

But while there are clear strengths, the data also points to areas where targeted action is needed to remain competitive in attracting global talent and investment. 

“Singapore’s strong ranking is a reflection of its performances in the Talent Development, Innovation and Participation pillars,” said John Borneman, Regional Director for Hays Singapore. “The country’s long-standing investment in human capital, combined with its SkillsFuture initiative and data-driven workforce planning has positioned it as a global leader.” 

“But there is room for growth. An ageing population and tightening quotas for mid-skilled foreign workers may constrain future labour supply, requiring continued investment in reskilling, inclusive talent strategies, and adaptive workforce policies.” 

“Singapore’s ability to align education, training and employment offers a blueprint for future-ready workforce planning. For organisations seeking innovative, high-quality talent, the country is a top-tier destination.” 

The Hays Global Talent Trackerwas developed in partnership with Oxford Economics in early 2025, analysing labour market data across 35 markets. The research benchmarks national workforces using a composite index built from five pillars – talent value, participation, development, flexibility, and innovation – drawing on a wide range of economic, demographic, and skills-based indicators. Read the full report here - Hays Global Talent Tracker. 

 

Contact 

Sonel Singh, Head of Marketing, Southeast Asia, Hays 
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 recruitment and workforce solutions, such as Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Managed Service Provider (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 31 December 2024, the Group employed over 10,300 staff operating from 225 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.