More than four in five employers in Singapore are already using AI in hiring, onboarding, or training

This percentage is above both the Asia Pacific & Middle East average (81%) and the global average (67%).

More than four in five organisations surveyed in Singapore (82%) are already using AI in hiring, onboarding, or training new workers, according to ManpowerGroup's latest Employment Outlook Survey for Q2 2025. 

This is slightly above the regional average in Asia Pacific & Middle East (81%) and well above the global average of 67%. 

Across industries, AI usage is highest in utilities and natural resources (89%), information (87%), and manufacturing (86%), and lowest in professional, scientific, and technical services (76%), the public sector and health and social services (73%), and hospitality (72%).

Return on investment (ROI) from AI was highest in learning and development, cited by 32% of employers, followed by scheduling or forecasting (17%) and team performance (12%). However, only 4% of employers say AI fully meets expectations in hiring and training, while 10% report no positive ROI to date.

When it came to top barriers to broader AI adoption, privacy and regulatory concerns (16%), insufficient company training (13%), and employees’ lack of AI skills (9%) emerged as the most cited.

Other key findings of the survey include: 

1. Singapore’s seasonally adjusted net employment outlook for Q2 2026 stands at +24%, up 10 points quarter‑on‑quarter but down three points year‑on‑year.
2. Of the 538 Singapore employers surveyed, close to half (45%) plan to increase headcount, 33% expect to maintain staffing levels, and 21% anticipate a decrease. The remaining 1% are uncertain about staffing changes in the upcoming quarter.
3. The information sector leads hiring intentions with an NEO of +41%, reflecting growing demand for technology skills.

Commenting on the findings, Linda Teo, Country Manager, ManpowerGroup Singapore, said the improvement in hiring sentiment this quarter reflects employers’ continued efforts to adapt to evolving business needs.

“While much of this momentum is being driven by companies expanding into new areas, organisations are also stepping up their search for fresh skills to maintain a competitive edge — especially in the information sector, where advancements in technology are creating demand for new expertise and supporting stronger hiring intentions as firms deepen their focus on technology‑led transformation and future capability building.”

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