Singapore employers plan to up hires in sales and marketing

SINGAPORE - A large majority of businesses in Singapore have plans to increase or maintain their headcount of employees, especially in the sales and marketing sector, a survey has revealed.

Results of the Regus Business Confidence Index showed that as many as 90 per cent of businesses here are planning to increase or maintain headcount in 2013.

The survey of more than 26,000 businesses across 90 countries also showed that there was a strong emphasis on recruiting sales and marketing staff in Singapore.

The positivity of Singapore's job market has increased, giving the city-state a higher business confidence index score from October, 2012.

In Singapore the Index stands at 129 points, which is up eight points from six months ago.

Globally, the Regus Business Confidence Index stands at 114 points. This is up three points from October 2012.

58 per cent of Singapore businesses reported rising revenues and 52 per cent reported increased profits over the past 12 months.

While a third of businesses (35 per cent) have plans to increase headcount by more than 5 per cent, 60 per cent have plans to hire more sales & marketing employees, while 48 per cent plan to employ more operational staff.

John Henderson, Asia Pacific Regional Director at Regus said:" The stand out figures are not just that firms are looking to recruit but that their plan is to invest in sales and marketing. This shows that companies feel it is the right time to go out there and sell".

"Businesses need to consider how to recruit and retain the best in the field, ensuring they can remain competitive in their market," he added.

He also warned that flexible working conditions will become necessary to retaining talent within a firm.

"As, younger people come into the workforce, they have a very different attitude to work, placing flexibility and quality of life above more traditional considerations," he said.

"Flexible working also brings additional benefits helping businesses to cut fixed office space costs and increase staff productivity".