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| Source: PERSOL. 2025 talent trends and hiring priorities. |
PERSOL's Industry Insight Report 2025 has revealed that employee expectations for flexibility, purpose and growth now outweigh pay as key drivers of career choice, reshaping how organisations attract and retain talent across the Asia Pacific region.
Based on findings from 12 markets and four core sectors – manufacturing, consumer, professional services and supply chain, the report offers a regional view of how work and workforce priorities are evolving:
Automation, sustainability regulation and demographic change are redefining the labour market across the region. Employers continue to face widespread skills shortages, with demand for digital, analytical and hybrid capabilities outpacing supply in most major markets. environment, social and
governance (ESG) awareness and compliance literacy are also becoming essential hiring criteria as organisations respond to growing sustainability expectations.
The report highlights that Gen Z and Millennial professionals are reshaping what they value at work, prioritising flexibility, purpose and development opportunities over pay alone. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Asia and the Pacific remains the world’s fastest-growing employment region, underscoring the need for businesses to evolve workforce strategies in line with these shifting expectations.
Elvin Tan, Regional Director and Head of Operations APAC at PERSOL said, “The region’s talent economy is at a crossroads. Workforce gaps are no longer just about headcount. They are about adaptability. Employers who balance technology investment with cultural intelligence and purpose-led hiring will emerge stronger in the next cycle.”
In Singapore, these shifts are even more pronounced, PERSOL said.
Employers are seeing strong demand for talent in e-commerce operations,
data analytics, sustainability reporting and supply chain optimisation.
Foreign manpower controls and expanding ESG reporting requirements are intensifying competition for
hybrid digital-ESG talent, the report found. Meanwhile, local
professionals increasingly prioritise purpose, flexibility and career
progression over compensation alone, prompting organisations to rethink
how they attract and retain talent.
The report identified several shifts in how employers hire, engage and compete for talent across Asia Pacific.
At the heart of this transformation is the rise of hybrid skills, where digital fluency and human capability increasingly go hand in hand - employers are now seeking professionals who can navigate technology and strategy in equal measure.
Closely linked to this is the growing importance of sustainability and compliance literacy. As ESG expectations become more deeply embedded in business strategy, roles once limited to sustainability teams are now expanding across finance, operations and supply chain functions.
The study also points to a significant shift in the employer-employee dynamic, with candidates behaving more like consumers. Jobseekers expect transparency, mobile-first communication and a sense of purpose from the hiring process. In Singapore’s highly-competitive market, digitally-skilled and sustainability-focused candidates actively assess employers for clear values, culture and long-term growth pathways.
These evolving expectations are most visible among younger professionals, particularly Gen Z and millennials, who prioritise flexibility, belonging and personal growth. For many, meaningful work and supportive leadership now matter more than salary alone.
The report concluded with a call for deeper collaboration across business, education and government to bridge the widening skills gap. This includes strengthening partnerships that align workforce development with national priorities in digital transformation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
Details
Read the PERSOL Industry Insight Report 2025 at www.persolapac.com/industry-insights-2025
