Employers urged to implement better retention strategies to keep talent committed
Singapore's hospitality and tourism sector has reported a 130% surge in job interest, a strong sign of the COVID-hit sector's recovery, according to a new report.
Indeed's latest data revealed that hospitality and tourism jobs reported a 130.3% growth in clicks per million from 2021 to 2025.
According to Indeed, the sector's job security, pay, and working conditions may have contributed to the growing interest in the sector.
Skilled talent, as well as alumni returning to the workforce and recent graduates, have also potentially contributed to this growing demand.
"Thriving jobseeker interest is a good sign of the hospitality and tourism sector's recovery, but employers must ensure that this influx of talent is matched to the right roles to nurture the industry for long-term growth and resilience," said Shannon Peter Pang, Indeed spokesperson, in a statement.
The findings come after Singapore's hospitality and tourism sector was hit hard by local and international restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), as cited by HVS Global Hospitality Services, revealed that international visitor arrivals declined in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, halting the country's 5.5% growth rate from 2006 to 2019.
Source: HVS Global Hospitality Services, citing STB data
Total overnight visitor numbers also plunged to 2.16 million in 2020 and just 83,860 in 2021 due to COVID, a significant decline from the 14.5 million overnight visitors logged in 2019.
The restrictions strongly impacted employment. The Ministry of Manpower's Labour Market Report 2020 said tourism-related sectors reported declines in resident employment amid COVID-19 travel restrictions and safe distancing measures.
However, Indeed's report found that job opportunities in the local hospitality and tourism sector grew by 48.7% from 2021 to 2025.
According to Indeed, hospitality and tourism job postings increased by 14.6% from April 2024 to April 2025, which it attributed to renewed investments in the tourism workforce and surging travel demand.
International visitor arrivals hit 16.5 million in 2024, according to the STB's latest data, with tourism receipts reaching $22.4 billion between January and September 2024.
"Singapore's smooth recovery as a premier travel destination in the Asia Pacific spells an exciting time for the country. The growth in the local hospitality and tourism sector is not just a bounce-back, but a reawakening of an industry essential to Singapore's connection with the global economy," Pang said.
He told businesses to ensure that they are providing meaningful pathways as demand for the sector returns.
"Employers are encouraged to invest in upskilling programmes to build a sustainable workforce pipeline to meet evolving service expectations and demands," he said. "Better employee retention strategies, such as competitive benefits and clear career development pathways, could help keep talent motivated and committed to building the industry."
