Employers urged to better communicate, upskill employees amid rapid workplace transformation
Employees in Singapore have emerged as the least confident group when it comes to job security, according to a new report, which highlighted the need for employers to clearly communicate and invest in ongoing training amid a rapidly changing job market.
ADP Research's latest People at Work report revealed that just 15% of employees in Singapore feel that their job is safe from elimination, the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region.
But the region as a whole is only doing slightly better on the figures, with just 18% of respondents in APAC agreeing that their jobs are safe from elimination.
Globally, only 22% of workers feel secure about their work, according to the report.
Jessica Zhang, Senior Vice President of APAC at ADP, said the findings highlight a clear gap between actual employment conditions and how secure workers feel about their future.
"In Singapore, employees are not thinking about whether they have a job today, but also whether their roles will remain relevant tomorrow. This growing uncertainty is becoming a defining feature of today's workforce," Zhang said in a statement.
The executive underscored the need for better communication and upskilling amid widespread job insecurity.
"For employers, this means clearly communicating how roles are expected to evolve, what those changes mean for their workforce, and investing in ongoing training to help employees maintain their employability while improving productivity and efficiency," she said.
Job security in Singapore
Younger workers in Singapore emerged as the most confident in their job security, with 22% of employees between ages 18 and 26 agreeing that their jobs are safe, according to the report.
Knowledge workers also emerged as the most secure by job scope with 21% confident in their work, higher than skilled task (12%) and repetitive task (10%) employees.
Employees from medium-sized firms (250 to 999 employees) also reported the highest confidence levels, while those in small-sized firms (1 to 249 employees) reported the lowest.
Failing to address job insecurity can become a "business issue" for employers, according to ADP chief economist Nela Richardson.
Globally, the report revealed that employees who feel their jobs are secure are twice as likely to remain with their current employer.
They are also six times more likely to be fully engaged and 3.3 times more likely to report high productivity.
"When employees feel confident about their future with an organisation, they are more likely to stay committed, perform at their best and contribute more effectively," Richardson said in a statement.
"Employers that pair honest communication with meaningful skills investment will be in a much stronger position to build a resilient workforce."
