Jobstreet by SEEK Survey: Job Hunting as Challenging as Finding a Romantic Partner

A recent survey by Jobstreet and Jobsdb by SEEK, involving over 5,000 respondents from across Southeast Asia, has revealed increasing unhappiness among Singaporean employees and highlighted the unique challenges they face in their career journeys. Conducted in May 2024, the survey sheds light on job satisfaction issues and the striking parallel between finding the right job and finding a romantic partner.

Growing Unhappiness at Work Due to Unsatisfactory Compensation

The survey found that Singapore leads the region in employee unhappiness, with 19% of workers reporting dissatisfaction at work. This is significantly higher compared to Malaysia (12%), the Philippines (11%), Hong Kong (9%), Thailand (9%), and Indonesia (4%). The primary source of this dissatisfaction is inadequate salary and benefits, cited by 53% of Singaporean employees. Additionally, 36% pointed to a lack of recognition as a key factor in their unhappiness.

Interestingly, despite salary being a major dissatisfaction factor, only 15% of Singaporean employees are highly likely to accept a high-paying job that doesn’t align with their career goals or skill sets. This contrasts with a regional average of 24%, indicating that Singaporeans place a strong emphasis on long-term career development and job satisfaction over immediate financial gains.

Mismatch Between Job Roles and Skills

The survey revealed that only 14% of Singaporean employees feel their current job matches their skills and aspirations well. This issue is more pronounced among lower-wage earners (earning less than SGD 2,500 monthly), with 21% feeling their jobs do not align with their skills and aspirations at all. This mismatch underscores the broader challenges Singaporeans face in securing satisfying employment.

When asked about the difficulty of finding the right job compared to finding a long-term partner, 27% of respondents said that finding the right job is more challenging, while 53% believe both are equally difficult. Additionally, 57% feel it is now harder to find a job that matches their skills and preferences compared to when they first entered the workforce.

Cautious Attitudes Towards Career Decisions

Despite 79% of Singaporean employees being open to making drastic career changes, the survey found that 72% are willing to stay in a position they’ve outgrown for over a year before actively seeking new opportunities. This figure is significantly higher than the regional average of 58%, suggesting a preference for job stability over career progression. This cautious approach can be attributed to the rising cost of living in Singapore and perceived job insecurity.

Financial stability (31%), concerns about work-life balance in new roles (35%), and uncertainty about future job prospects (35%) were cited as the top reasons for not actively seeking new jobs. This cautious attitude highlights potential barriers to career advancement and adapting to evolving market demands.