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SINGAPORE, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite Singapore's low unemployment rate of around 2.1 percent, a new study by Reeracoen and Rakuten Insight shows that employers remain cautious when evaluating mid-career candidates, applicants with career gaps, and those who have been unemployed for more than three months.
The Singapore Hiring Manager Survey Report 2025–2026 draws on responses from 375 hiring managers across multiple industries, including both final decision-makers and HR professionals involved in candidate evaluations. Their insights provide a clear view of how companies are coping with talent shortages, changing skill demands, and the challenges of helping jobseekers return to the workforce as digital transformation accelerates.
Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group, said, "Across Asia, hiring is shifting toward a skills-based, human-centric approach. This study highlights the need for companies to evaluate potential not only by job history, but also by motivation, effort and adaptability. At Reeracoen, we are committed to bridging the trust gap between employers and jobseekers."
Hiring confidence remains low, with only 23.2 percent of hiring managers saying they feel very confident about finding qualified local talent. The majority cite high salary expectations (80.3 percent) as the top challenge, followed by skills mismatch (65.1 percent). Another 56.3 percent say there is a lack of experienced candidates, while 40.5 percent report limited interest from jobseekers.
Career gaps remain a hurdle, with 63 percent of employers hesitant about candidates who have been unemployed for more than three months. Upskilling carries significant weight in hiring decisions. A total of 76.6 percent of respondents say that recent training, certifications or skills development are essential when assessing applicants. Employers continue to place high value on digital and AI skills, followed by project management, data literacy, technical certifications and communication abilities.
Recruitment agencies continue to play a significant role in the hiring process. More than 76 percent of employers rely on agencies to shortlist candidates, which helps reduce mismatches and hiring delays, particularly for roles that are harder to fill.
"Singapore's hiring landscape is changing quickly, and the data shows that employers are becoming more selective in how they assess readiness and skills. Mid-career candidates and those returning to the workforce are evaluated not just by experience, but also by their recent learning efforts and job readiness. These insights provide important direction for organisations looking to strengthen their hiring strategies and adapt to shifting workforce expectations," said Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight.
Singapore's rapid digital transformation continues to widen the gap between employer expectations and jobseeker readiness. Employers increasingly value preparation, skills evidence and proactiveness. Jobseekers who lack recent activity or training often struggle to demonstrate immediate value, highlighting opportunities for companies, agencies and policymakers to support fairer hiring evaluations and re-entry pathways.
"In Singapore's fast-moving job market, hiring managers are under pressure to make decisions quickly. Yet many still hesitate when faced with career gaps or non-traditional profiles. This report shows that readiness signals, such as upskilling, re-entry motivation and transparency, can make a meaningful difference. Recruitment agencies play an important role in surfacing these overlooked talents," said Shoichi Sunaga, Branch Manager, Reeracoen Singapore.
Download the Singapore Hiring Manager Survey Report 2025–2026 at:
https://www.reeracoen.sg/en/events/Employer-Singapore-Hiring-Manager-Survey-Report-2025-2026?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=article&utm_id=hiring_manager_survey_report
To learn more about Reeracoen's recruitment services, visit https://www.reeracoen.sg or connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/reeracoen-singapore.
About Reeracoen Singapore Pte Ltd
Reeracoen is an award-winning leader in Asia's recruitment landscape, connecting top-tier talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian countries, we combine deep local networks with cross-border hiring expertise to help businesses grow faster and stronger.
Our excellence has been recognised with recent awards such as:
- Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2025
- Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2024
- Best Executive Recruitment Agency 2024
In Singapore, we uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service quality, providing innovative and trusted recruitment solutions to help businesses and candidates succeed in an evolving digital economy. For more information, visit www.reeracoen.sg and follow us on social media.
About Rakuten Insight, Inc.
Rakuten Insight, Inc. is a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo. Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets and the United States, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions. With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia. For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite Singapore's low unemployment rate of around 2.1 percent, a new study by Reeracoen and Rakuten Insight shows that employers remain cautious when evaluating mid-career candidates, applicants with career gaps, and those who have been unemployed for more than three months.
The Singapore Hiring Manager Survey Report 2025–2026 draws on responses from 375 hiring managers across multiple industries, including both final decision-makers and HR professionals involved in candidate evaluations. Their insights provide a clear view of how companies are coping with talent shortages, changing skill demands, and the challenges of helping jobseekers return to the workforce as digital transformation accelerates.
Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group, said, "Across Asia, hiring is shifting toward a skills-based, human-centric approach. This study highlights the need for companies to evaluate potential not only by job history, but also by motivation, effort and adaptability. At Reeracoen, we are committed to bridging the trust gap between employers and jobseekers."
Hiring confidence remains low, with only 23.2 percent of hiring managers saying they feel very confident about finding qualified local talent. The majority cite high salary expectations (80.3 percent) as the top challenge, followed by skills mismatch (65.1 percent). Another 56.3 percent say there is a lack of experienced candidates, while 40.5 percent report limited interest from jobseekers.
Career gaps remain a hurdle, with 63 percent of employers hesitant about candidates who have been unemployed for more than three months. Upskilling carries significant weight in hiring decisions. A total of 76.6 percent of respondents say that recent training, certifications or skills development are essential when assessing applicants. Employers continue to place high value on digital and AI skills, followed by project management, data literacy, technical certifications and communication abilities.
Recruitment agencies continue to play a significant role in the hiring process. More than 76 percent of employers rely on agencies to shortlist candidates, which helps reduce mismatches and hiring delays, particularly for roles that are harder to fill.
"Singapore's hiring landscape is changing quickly, and the data shows that employers are becoming more selective in how they assess readiness and skills. Mid-career candidates and those returning to the workforce are evaluated not just by experience, but also by their recent learning efforts and job readiness. These insights provide important direction for organisations looking to strengthen their hiring strategies and adapt to shifting workforce expectations," said Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight.
Singapore's rapid digital transformation continues to widen the gap between employer expectations and jobseeker readiness. Employers increasingly value preparation, skills evidence and proactiveness. Jobseekers who lack recent activity or training often struggle to demonstrate immediate value, highlighting opportunities for companies, agencies and policymakers to support fairer hiring evaluations and re-entry pathways.
"In Singapore's fast-moving job market, hiring managers are under pressure to make decisions quickly. Yet many still hesitate when faced with career gaps or non-traditional profiles. This report shows that readiness signals, such as upskilling, re-entry motivation and transparency, can make a meaningful difference. Recruitment agencies play an important role in surfacing these overlooked talents," said Shoichi Sunaga, Branch Manager, Reeracoen Singapore.
Download the Singapore Hiring Manager Survey Report 2025–2026 at:
https://www.reeracoen.sg/en/events/Employer-Singapore-Hiring-Manager-Survey-Report-2025-2026?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=article&utm_id=hiring_manager_survey_report
To learn more about Reeracoen's recruitment services, visit https://www.reeracoen.sg or connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/reeracoen-singapore.
About Reeracoen Singapore Pte Ltd
Reeracoen is an award-winning leader in Asia's recruitment landscape, connecting top-tier talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian countries, we combine deep local networks with cross-border hiring expertise to help businesses grow faster and stronger.
Our excellence has been recognised with recent awards such as:
- Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2025
- Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2024
- Best Executive Recruitment Agency 2024
In Singapore, we uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service quality, providing innovative and trusted recruitment solutions to help businesses and candidates succeed in an evolving digital economy. For more information, visit www.reeracoen.sg and follow us on social media.
About Rakuten Insight, Inc.
Rakuten Insight, Inc. is a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo. Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets and the United States, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions. With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia. For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Singapore Employers Remain Cautious About Career Gaps as Hiring Confidence Falls and Demand for Skills Evidence Rises
Singapore Employers Remain Cautious About Career Gaps as Hiring Confidence Falls and Demand for Skills Evidence Rises
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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when nearly 1 in 5 students nationally fails to complete high school on time and young adults without a diploma face significantly higher unemployment and housing insecurity, MindHYVE.ai™ participated in Miracle University's "Multiply the Miracle" community fundraiser in Sacramento—reinforcing its commitment to education equity, dropout prevention, and student empowerment.
The event brought together educators, community leaders, donors, and students in support of Miracle University's mission to address the dropout crisis through alternative, holistic education models serving non-traditional and at-risk learners.
Leadership Engagement and a Shared Sense of Urgency
MindHYVE Founder & CEO Bill Faruki joined Miracle University leadership for an engagement focused on relationship-building, student connection, and long-term impact. During the visit, Mr. Bill Faruki met with Dr. Raja, Founder and President of Miracle University, to discuss the institution's role in stabilizing students' lives amid challenges that extend far beyond the classroom.
National research consistently shows that students experiencing homelessness, foster care placement, or justice-system exposure are two to three times more likely to disengage from traditional education systems. Miracle University's model directly addresses these realities by combining education with wraparound support, mentorship, and community connection.
"Institutions like Miracle University are not just educating students—they are interrupting cycles of instability," said Bill Faruki. "When students are supported as whole people, education becomes a powerful force for transformation."
Student Engagement and AI Literacy for the Future Workforce
As part of the visit, Bill Faruki led an interactive, two-hour session with Miracle University students focused on:
- An introduction to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Real-world applications of AI in education and future careers
- How personal interests, creativity, and lived experience can translate into opportunity
The conversation comes at a critical moment: studies estimate that over 60% of future jobs will require some level of digital or AI fluency, yet access to emerging technology education remains deeply uneven across socioeconomic lines.
Bill emphasized that students' backgrounds are not limitations—but differentiators—especially in a world increasingly shaped by technology, ethics, and human-centered innovation.
Following the session, MindHYVE leadership engaged in one-on-one conversations with students who shared personal journeys shaped by housing insecurity, foster care, and systemic instability—stories that reflect national trends but are too often invisible in traditional education settings.
Community Celebration and Student Achievement
The visit concluded with Miracle University's "Multiply the Miracle" holiday celebration, featuring student performances, testimonials, and community fellowship. The program highlighted student success stories—graduates who have transitioned into higher education, career pathways, and renewed stability through Miracle University's programs.
These outcomes are especially significant given that students who return to education after dropping out are statistically far more likely to persist when enrolled in alternative, relationship-driven learning environments like Miracle University's.
During the event, Faruki was formally recognized for his ongoing engagement and support of the university's mission.
About Miracle University
Miracle University is a Sacramento-based institution dedicated to addressing the dropout crisis through alternative education models, holistic student support, and community-driven programs designed to serve non-traditional and at-risk learners.
About MindHYVE.ai™
MindHYVE.ai™ is redefining the boundaries of intelligence by engineering autonomous systems and deploying domain-specific AGI agents across real-world sectors. Powered by the Ava-Fusion™ large reasoning model and architected for agent coordination, swarm intelligence, and adaptive autonomy, MindHYVE's technology stack is revolutionizing law, medicine, finance, education, and governance.
With operations in North America, Asia, and Africa, MindHYVE.ai™ is on a mission to democratize access to transformative intelligence and architect the infrastructure for post-scarcity economies. Backed by HYVE Labs, the company continues to shape the future of agentic systems on a global scale.
Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: hello@mindhyve.io | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668
Media Contact:
Marc Ortiz
Email: marc.ortiz@mindhyve.io
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when nearly 1 in 5 students nationally fails to complete high school on time and young adults without a diploma face significantly higher unemployment and housing insecurity, MindHYVE.ai™ participated in Miracle University's "Multiply the Miracle" community fundraiser in Sacramento—reinforcing its commitment to education equity, dropout prevention, and student empowerment.
The event brought together educators, community leaders, donors, and students in support of Miracle University's mission to address the dropout crisis through alternative, holistic education models serving non-traditional and at-risk learners.
Leadership Engagement and a Shared Sense of Urgency
MindHYVE Founder & CEO Bill Faruki joined Miracle University leadership for an engagement focused on relationship-building, student connection, and long-term impact. During the visit, Mr. Bill Faruki met with Dr. Raja, Founder and President of Miracle University, to discuss the institution's role in stabilizing students' lives amid challenges that extend far beyond the classroom.
National research consistently shows that students experiencing homelessness, foster care placement, or justice-system exposure are two to three times more likely to disengage from traditional education systems. Miracle University's model directly addresses these realities by combining education with wraparound support, mentorship, and community connection.
"Institutions like Miracle University are not just educating students—they are interrupting cycles of instability," said Bill Faruki. "When students are supported as whole people, education becomes a powerful force for transformation."
Student Engagement and AI Literacy for the Future Workforce
As part of the visit, Bill Faruki led an interactive, two-hour session with Miracle University students focused on:
- An introduction to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Real-world applications of AI in education and future careers
- How personal interests, creativity, and lived experience can translate into opportunity
The conversation comes at a critical moment: studies estimate that over 60% of future jobs will require some level of digital or AI fluency, yet access to emerging technology education remains deeply uneven across socioeconomic lines.
Bill emphasized that students' backgrounds are not limitations—but differentiators—especially in a world increasingly shaped by technology, ethics, and human-centered innovation.
Following the session, MindHYVE leadership engaged in one-on-one conversations with students who shared personal journeys shaped by housing insecurity, foster care, and systemic instability—stories that reflect national trends but are too often invisible in traditional education settings.
Community Celebration and Student Achievement
The visit concluded with Miracle University's "Multiply the Miracle" holiday celebration, featuring student performances, testimonials, and community fellowship. The program highlighted student success stories—graduates who have transitioned into higher education, career pathways, and renewed stability through Miracle University's programs.
These outcomes are especially significant given that students who return to education after dropping out are statistically far more likely to persist when enrolled in alternative, relationship-driven learning environments like Miracle University's.
During the event, Faruki was formally recognized for his ongoing engagement and support of the university's mission.
About Miracle University
Miracle University is a Sacramento-based institution dedicated to addressing the dropout crisis through alternative education models, holistic student support, and community-driven programs designed to serve non-traditional and at-risk learners.
About MindHYVE.ai™
MindHYVE.ai™ is redefining the boundaries of intelligence by engineering autonomous systems and deploying domain-specific AGI agents across real-world sectors. Powered by the Ava-Fusion™ large reasoning model and architected for agent coordination, swarm intelligence, and adaptive autonomy, MindHYVE's technology stack is revolutionizing law, medicine, finance, education, and governance.
With operations in North America, Asia, and Africa, MindHYVE.ai™ is on a mission to democratize access to transformative intelligence and architect the infrastructure for post-scarcity economies. Backed by HYVE Labs, the company continues to shape the future of agentic systems on a global scale.
Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: hello@mindhyve.io | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668
Media Contact:
Marc Ortiz
Email: marc.ortiz@mindhyve.io
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
MindHYVE Leadership Engages Sacramento Community Through Education, AI Literacy, and Student Empowerment at Miracle University's "Multiply the Miracle" Event
