Singapore FinTech Festival 2025: 5 Hiring Signals Every Company Should Watch in 2026

GeneralNovember 17, 2025 15:00

Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 main stage, showcasing digital innovation themes.

This article is written in English for readers in Singapore. Chinese and Japanese translations are available on our website. 

Introduction: SFF 2025 Was Not Just About FinTech — It Revealed Singapore’s Next Big Talent Shifts

Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025 brought together more than 65,000 leaders across finance, AI, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging tech.

While most headlines focused on new technologies and MAS announcements, one theme stood out beneath everything else — the Singapore job market is about to transform again.

From digital finance to AI-powered operations and cybersecurity, companies across all industries will compete for the same high-demand skills in 2026.

This article distils the five most important hiring signals for companies in Singapore, based on discussions, panel insights, and emerging workforce trends highlighted at SFF 2025.

 

1. The Demand for AI & Data Talent Will Grow Faster Than Supply

From conversational AI to automated risk assessment and AI-driven payments, SFF made one thing clear:
AI skills are no longer “nice to have.” They are now business-critical.

Key Market Data

  • In 2024, Singapore recorded a 38% increase in AI talent job postings across banking, insurance, and tech (LinkedIn data).
  • MAS’ Financial Sector Technology & Innovation (FSTI) 3.0 scheme injected S$150 million to accelerate AI adoption across financial institutions.
  • By 2026, demand for AI Engineers, Data Scientists, MLOps Engineers, and AI Product Managers is projected to increase by 20–30% annually.

What this means for hiring

Companies that continue “traditional” workforce planning risk falling behind.

Hiring managers need to:

✔ Build a 2026 skills roadmap early
✔ Consider cross-industry talent, not just financial services
✔ Strengthen retention for existing AI teams
✔ Invest in retraining high-potential staff

AI is no longer an innovation initiative — it is a workforce one.

 

2. Cybersecurity Talent Will Be One of the Most Scarce Skill Sets in 2026

With digital banking, cross-border payments, and AI systems connecting across cloud environments, cybersecurity risk has multiplied.

SFF 2025 highlighted that:

Key Data

  • Global cybersecurity workforce shortage: 4 million professionals (ISC2, 2024).
  • Singapore needs over 3,000 more cybersecurity specialists by 2026.
  • MAS is tightening compliance, increasing demand for governance, threat intelligence, and cloud security roles.

Roles in highest demand

  • Cybersecurity Specialists
  • Cloud Security Engineers
  • Cyber Risk Managers
  • SOC Analysts
  • DevSecOps Engineers

Hiring implication

Cybersecurity talent is expensive, scarce, and highly mobile.

Companies must strengthen their value proposition and move faster during hiring cycles to avoid losing candidates to competitors.

 

3. Digital Finance, Payments, and Compliance Skills Are Accelerating

SFF 2025 showcased the rise of tokenisation, embedded finance, and real-time payments — creating new workforce needs in both fintech and traditional corporates.

Key Data

  • Global digital payments revenue is forecast to reach US$3.6 trillion by 2030 (McKinsey).
  • Singapore saw a 25% rise in digital banking and payments roles in 2024.
  • Compliance hiring grew by 18%, driven by MAS regulatory updates.

Emerging roles

  • Digital Payments Specialists
  • Product Managers (Digital Banking)
  • KYC/AML Analysts
  • Blockchain Engineers
  • Regulatory Technology (RegTech) Specialists

What hiring managers should do

✔ Refresh job descriptions to reflect evolving skills
✔ Consider upskilling mid-career professionals
✔ Benchmark salaries for 2025–2026 more accurately

 

4. Singapore’s Talent Preferences Are Shifting — Especially Among Young Professionals

SFF spotlighted a rising trend:
Gen Z and young professionals are gravitating toward roles that offer stability, hybrid work, and purpose-driven impact.

This aligns with findings from the APAC Workforce Whitepaper 2025 (12,181 respondents), where:

Key Worker Insights

  • 42% of Singapore workers prefer hybrid flexibility.
  • 64% value stability over rapid career advancement.
  • 51% consider leaving a job if work-life balance erodes.
  • 70% want employers who invest in skills and career mobility.

Implication for HR

To attract strong candidates in 2026, companies should prioritise:
✔ Growth pathways
✔ Training budgets
✔ Projects that offer cross-functional exposure
✔ Clear communication during the hiring process

Company culture and employer branding have become decisive hiring factors.

 

5. Engineers and Tech Talent Beyond FinTech Will Be the Biggest Winners

While SFF is centred on finance and digital innovation, many discussions touched on Singapore’s growing tech ecosystem around:

  • Semiconductors
  • AI infrastructure
  • Data centres
  • Smart manufacturing

Singapore’s semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors alone are projected to generate 1,500 new engineering roles by 2027.

High-demand engineering roles

  • Firmware Engineers
  • Equipment Engineers
  • Automation Engineers
  • Reliability & Failure Analysis Engineers
  • Data Centre Operations Engineers


What this means

FinTech companies aren’t just competing with banks for talent.

They’re competing with manufacturers, AI firms, data centres, and regional tech companies.

Conclusion: SFF 2025 Confirms One Thing — The Future of Work in Singapore Is Tech-Centric and Human-Centric

2026 will be a year where:

  • Tech adoption accelerates
  • Worker expectations rise
  • Talent shortages intensify
  • Companies with strong employer branding win

Whether you are hiring AI talent, cybersecurity specialists, payments professionals, or engineers, the competition will be intense.

To stay ahead, companies need to:

✔ Start workforce planning early
✔ Benchmark salaries accurately
✔ Build a compelling value proposition
✔ Partner with a trusted recruitment agency that understands the market

Reeracoen Singapore continues to support companies and professionals as the talent landscape evolves.

 

FAQ Section

1. What roles are most in demand after SFF 2025?

AI engineers, data scientists, cloud security engineers, compliance specialists, digital payments roles, and product managers are expected to be the most sought-after in 2026.

2. How will AI impact hiring in Singapore?

AI will create new specialist roles while increasing demand for digital skills across all job levels. Companies will need hybrid talent who can combine domain expertise with data or machine learning skills.

3. Are salaries expected to change in 2026?

Yes. With talent shortages in AI, cybersecurity, and engineering, salary increments may exceed the national average for these roles. Companies should refer to updated salary benchmarks.

4. What can companies do to attract better talent?

Offer hybrid flexibility, structured career pathways, training progression, and a clear employer value proposition. Speed in the hiring process also makes a major difference.

 

Need help hiring AI, data, cybersecurity, engineering, or digital finance talent?
 👉 Submit your JD here

Looking for your next opportunity in tech, finance, or engineering?
 👉 Apply here

 

✅ Final Author Credit
By Valerie Ong (Regional Marketing Manager)
Published by Reeracoen Singapore — a leading recruitment agency in APAC.

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