What Workers in Singapore Can Learn from the APAC Workforce Revolution in 2025

As economies across Asia-Pacific recover and reinvent themselves post-pandemic, 2025 marks a pivotal year for workers—especially in Singapore.

📰 As featured on Yahoo! Finance, Vulcan Post, and other leading media, the Reeracoen × Rakuten Insight APAC Workforce Whitepaper 2025 highlights what today’s Singapore workers truly want—and how employers must evolve.

From career ambitions to upskilling priorities, the whitepaper—based on insights from more than 12,000 respondents across 12 APAC markets—reveals how the region is navigating work and life. For Singapore-based professionals, understanding these cross-border shifts offers a powerful lens to stay competitive, fulfilled, and future-ready.

Quick Stats: How Singapore Workers Stack Up in APAC

In 2025, Singapore workers stand out in several areas:

• Hybrid work access: 68% (highest in APAC)
• CSR-driven job decisions: 79% (2nd highest)
• Open to overseas jobs: Only 43%, compared to 66.3% APAC average
• Salary is top motivator: 82% rank it as #1
• 25% expect a raise of over 10% this year

 

“While companies have regained leverage in hiring, workers remain firm in their expectations.”
— Kenji Naito, Group CEO, Reeracoen Group

 

The Pulse of APAC: Where Singapore Stands

Across the region, 75.1% of APAC workers want to advance their careers, with the highest ambition in Vietnam (86.5%) and the lowest in Japan (46.3%). Singapore sits in the middle—career ambition is strong, but not dominant.

As talent becomes increasingly borderless, Singapore workers must step up to remain relevant in an environment where regional peers are hungry, mobile, and digitally savvy.

Top Career Goals Across APAC:

• Career advancement (75.1%)
• Higher salary (72.4%)
• Better work-life balance (63.6%)

Singaporeans often value security and pay, but in a market where remote roles are growing and employers are increasingly open to cross-border hires, those goals alone are no longer enough. There's an urgency to upskill, embrace flexibility, and align with values-driven employers.

Remote Work Isn’t Dead—But It’s Evolving

Despite headlines about returning to office, 40.3% of APAC respondents prefer hybrid work. Singapore workers tend to lean more toward in-office arrangements—a trend that may affect mobility and job attractiveness if regional norms shift.

• Hybrid preference (APAC): 40.3%
• Remote (fully online): 14.8%
• Onsite (office-based): 44.9%

In high-demand sectors like tech, digital marketing, and fintech, APAC companies are hiring across borders. Workers in Singapore who insist on legacy routines may lose out to peers who are digitally fluent, adaptable, and virtual-ready.

Upskilling: A Critical Differentiator

While 66.7% of APAC workers want more training, only 15.6% receive regular upskilling. Singapore’s robust education infrastructure gives workers a head start—but only if they use it.

 

“Singapore’s workforce is well-placed to lead, but only if we continue learning. The future belongs to those who stay relevant.”
— Shoichi Sunaga, Branch Manager, Reeracoen Singapore
 

Workers must take initiative to learn AI, sustainability, data analytics, and leadership skills. As APAC economies shift toward digital transformation and ESG compliance, soft skills like adaptability and cross-cultural collaboration are becoming critical.

CSR: Not Just A Buzzword Anymore

One of the whitepaper’s most surprising findings? 68.9% of APAC workers say CSR and company values affect their job loyalty. This trend is gaining momentum in Singapore, especially among younger workers.

Today’s talent is asking:

• Does my employer walk the talk on sustainability?
• Is mental wellness supported at work?
• Are inclusion and ethics baked into company culture?

Professionals are screening companies as much as companies are screening them. For Singapore workers, asking about CSR in interviews is not just acceptable—it’s strategic.

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters to Singapore

The 2025 workforce is global, connected, and purpose-driven. For Singapore professionals, the key takeaway is this:

Ambition is no longer enough—agility, values, and lifelong learning are the new must-haves.

With regional peers embracing hybrid models, bold career shifts, and values-driven work, Singaporeans must go beyond survival mode. It's time to ask:

“How can I lead the future of work—not just keep up with it?”

FAQ: What Singapore Workers Need to Know

Q1: Why should I care if I’m not working overseas?

Even if you stay local, your team, clients, or bosses may come from other APAC markets. Understanding regional mindsets makes you a better collaborator and leader.

Q2: How do I upskill without time or money?

Start small—commit just 15 minutes a day. Use free platforms like Coursera, SkillsFuture, or LinkedIn Learning to learn bite-sized, job-relevant skills.

Q3: I prefer office work. Will I lose opportunities?

Not necessarily. What's important is flexibility and digital fluency. Be open to collaborating across platforms and geographies.

Q4: How do I know if a company’s CSR claims are real?

Look for action, not slogans. Real CSR shows up in sustainability reports, wellness policies, volunteer programs, and diversity metrics.

Q5: What industries are growing fastest in APAC?

Green energy, AI, digital transformation, healthcare, logistics, and sustainability-linked sectors are leading the charge. Workers with cross-sector skills are in high demand.

 

Ready to Future-Proof Your Career?

🔹 Download our whitepaper

🔹 Find a better job opportunity with Reeracoen Singapore

🔹 Looking to hire future-ready talent? Submit your request here

 

 

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