Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/01/23/singapore_recruitment_confidence_growth/

Singapore itching to hire new IT pros

Tax rates are tiny and the weather's more or less the same every day

By Phil Muncaster

Posted in On-Prem, 23rd January 2014 03:32 GMT

Things are looking up for ex-pat IT pros on the hunt for jobs in Singapore, with confidence about growth levels in the city state’s technology sector through the roof, according to a new skills report.

Recruiter Robert Half’s latest employment report for Singapore collected info from over 400 business leaders.

It revealed that confidence about growth in the technology industry has jumped from 66 per cent in 2013 to an impressive 92 per cent this year.

What’s more, Robert Half’s Singapore director Stella Tang told The Reg that for the first half of 2014, 35 per cent of companies plan to add new permanent technology staff, while 59 per cent said they would stick to existing staff levels.

That's apparently not the same level of growth as is predicted for the banking, accounting and finance industries but is still none too shabby.

Just five per cent said they had a hiring freeze in place and only one per cent said they were looking to reduce headcount when it comes to tech hires.

Tang told The Reg that ex-pat IT pros which stand the best chance of success finding a job in Singapore include those with skills in security, app and software development, business analysis, cloud and mobile.

“The key to landing a dream job is to highlight skills other than just technical qualifications. Employers need people who can lead teams as well as have the ability to communicate with other areas of the business,” she added.

“If you can show you can do more than just talk technology, you will definitely be helping your chances. A strong candidate will possess the ability to communicate problems and solutions effectively to managers that may not be as technologically literate as they are.”

The Reg was told that the report will be ready to publish by the end of the week. ®