Singapore is no stranger to foreign enterprise; it’s been attracting skilled expats to its shores with lucrative packages for decades. Even with government efforts to reduce the reliance on foreign workers, there continues to be a demand for qualified expats. 

Many of the expats who find work in Singapore are high earners who benefit from the city-state's relatively low taxes and high disposable income. Expats are advised to always negotiate for inclusive employment contracts, though prospective jobseekers in Singapore should be aware that comprehensive employment packages are increasingly reserved for those in the most senior positions. If a benefits package isn't on the table, make sure your salary is sufficient to cover Singapore's high cost of living.

Job market in Singapore

Singapore city centre office buildings

Expats, especially those working in Singapore's financial industries, shouldn’t struggle to find a job in the city-state's vibrant and rapidly growing economy. The bustling city-state has emerged as Southeast Asia’s premier banking and finance hub. 

Many international corporations have headquarters or regional bases here, as both the infrastructure and physical location make Singapore an ideal platform to reach the nearby Asian markets.

Most available jobs are in the financial sector with wealth-management firms, financial institutions, investment banks, insurance agencies, and foreign exchange companies. There are also increasing opportunities in other areas of business, such as management, IT, logistics, pharmaceuticals, education, energy, construction, and hospitality. 

Finding a job in Singapore

A good starting point for expats and a helpful aid in the job search would be one of the many employment agencies in Singapore. Employment agencies require the least legwork when it comes to securing a job. The biggest expat-recruiting industries are clustered around the technology, finance, and logistics sectors, with engineering, IT, and management skills particularly in demand.

Apart from using agencies and recruiters, new arrivals will do well to search online. Employers will often advertise new vacancies on various web portals and sites such as LinkedIn or on industry-specific portals and forums.

Useful links

Work culture in Singapore

Diverse group of businesspeople having a meeting

Expats moving to Singapore should be prepared to take the work-hard-play-hard philosophy to heart. Singaporeans and expats who’ve been in the city-state for a while are used to working to tight deadlines in an often high-pressure work environment. On the flip side, these high-pressure environments typically go hand in hand with excellent salaries, allowing expats to enjoy the top-shelf lifestyle that Singapore offers.

There tends to be a clear hierarchy in Singaporean workplaces. Those who are more senior in age and position are afforded great respect, and their decisions won’t be openly questioned by those lower down in the pecking order. Expats may also find there are more rules in the workplace than they might be used to.

As Singapore is such a diverse destination, the workplace is sure to be filled with all sorts of cultures and ethnicities. Those new to Lion City should learn about Singapore's main cultural groups and their traditions to ensure harmony in the workplace and avoid offending their co-workers.

Local Culture in Singapore
Business Culture in Singapore

What do expats say about the work culture in Singapore?

"From a personal standpoint, I would say that the work culture is better here. We follow a five days per week schedule with normal working hours of 40 to 45 hours per week. Over the years, there have been very few instances of us having had to work late into the night or work on weekends. The work-life balance is something my husband and I have grown to love and appreciate greatly!"

Learn more about working here in our expat interview about Singapore with Indian expat Megha.

"It’s Asia. People often work late but also start quite late."

Karien shares her experiences in her interview about living in Singapore as an expat.

Further reading

►For more on business etiquette and work culture in Singapore, see Doing Business in Singapore

Are you an expat living in Singapore?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Singapore. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute, or fill in our expat interview form to be featured.