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Singapore’s entry-level headcount shrinks as starting salaries rise

Aon data showed entry-level headcount fell 3.2% year on year while entry-level pay increased 2.5%, underscoring weaker hiring for new graduates.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Asia

Singapore’s entry-level job market is getting tougher even as starting salaries continue to rise, new data shows. SCMP Economy reports that global professional services firm Aon found entry-level employees saw a 2.5% year-on-year salary increase, alongside a 3.2% drop in entry-level headcount.

The report also points to softer graduate employment outcomes. SCMP Economy cites a joint survey by Singapore’s six autonomous universities, released in March, showing 83.4% of recent graduates who sought jobs were working within six months of their final exams, down from 87.1% in 2024 and continuing a decline from 2022.

Aon’s findings further suggest a shift in what employers expect from new entrants. According to SCMP Economy, the changing workplace driven by the growing role of artificial intelligence is influencing hiring and expectations for early-career workers.

The combination of higher pay but fewer entry-level roles comes as graduate job prospects in Singapore weaken, according to the outlet. SCMP Economy frames the data as evidence of reduced openings for people starting their careers.

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