The Growing Demand for Green Jobs as Singapore Targets Net-Zero Commissions

From releasing the Sentosa Playbook for Reducing Disposables to appointing the first government chief sustainability officer (GCSO), Singapore has constantly shown its proactivity in making the city as sustainable as possible. This dedication to nature, in turn, has resulted in the increasing demand for green jobs, particularly in roles that help the city-state reach its net-zero goals.

“Companies are expanding their headcount for green roles as Singapore moves towards establishing itself as a carbon services and green finance hub,” Linda Teo, country manager of recruitment firm ManpowerGroup Singapore, said in a recently published ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

“With Singapore targeting to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we can expect hiring demand for green jobs to continue to grow as companies formulate their business strategies with climate goals in mind,” she added.

While the rest of the world continues to struggle with the uncertainty of today’s economic outlook, certain sectors are seeing hiring optimism in Singapore, with the Energy & Utilities sector showing the strongest demand, followed by the Financials & Real Estate, and Consumer Goods & Services sectors.

In the Singapore Employment Outlook for Q3 2023, the firm asked 510 employers in the city-state on their hiring intentions for July to September 2023.

Results showed that the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) after seasonal adjustment is at +34%, with 48% planning to hire, 14% expecting staffing decrease, 36% planning to keep workforce levels steady, and 2% undecided. This is 7% higher than the last quarter, but 6% lower year-on-year.

Across all sectors, the hiring intentions for the Energy & Utilities sector were the highest at 57%, while the Transport, Logistics & Automotive sector were the lowest at 22%. The survey also revealed that demand for talent in the former surpasses the supply, as 97% of organisations are finding it difficult to find the right talent.

For job seekers, this means they shouldn’t worry too much about the lack of job openings, but more about finding the company they think will make the most of their skills. Still, they should have the top five soft skills employers are looking for to improve their chances: Creativity & Originality, Leadership & Social Influence, Critical Thinking & Analysis, Resilience & Adaptability, and Reliability & Self-Discipline.