MOM reveals where new jobs are being created and how much they pay

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below are solely the author’s.

In March, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released its annual summary of job creation efforts over the previous year, highlighting the skills and expertise required for both PMET and non-PMET occupations.

In this piece, we focus on the PMET roles—Professionals, Managers, Managers and Technicians—where many of Singapore’s best and most sought-after jobs tend to be (although some statistics may overlap).

Why are new jobs being created in Singapore?

MAMA’s analysis begins with an important question: do Singaporean employers want to be replaced or do they really add new openings to their application?

Fortunately, last year brought the highest reading yet: 49.3% of the vacancies were for entirely new positions. This means that local companies are looking for more people and not just exchange workers.

In addition, a record share of this expansion was driven by businesses creating entirely new jobs. In 34.7% of cases, job growth came from new roles rather than expansion of existing jobs, which, unsurprisingly, remained the majority at 55.8%.

It suggests that 2025, despite fears caused by US tariffs, was a very strong year, and companies are still entering new territories.

Where are jobs created?

So where are those new places to be found?

However, as has been the case for the past few years, the industry with the largest share of new openings remains Information and Communicationwhere close to three-fourths of the job vacancies did not exist before.

Followed by Building (although possibly driven by non-PMET employment), as well Professional Services again Finance and Insurancewhere more than half of the jobs offered are new.

That’s good news, of course, given that some of the highest-paid roles are found in Singapore’s corporate sector.

Who are these jobs?

Not suitable people, naturally, but as we have explained Vulcan Post recently, paper qualifications are less important, even for the PMET, where 70 percent of employers say academic qualifications are not the most important factor.

This does not mean that they do not matter at all, but if all you have is paper rather than practical experience, your job search may be very long, just as it is a problem for employers to recruit workers for other positions for more than six months (listed in the table below).

Lack of skills and knowledge are the two main reasons why they remain in the market, without enough talent to fill them. And it’s not like employer expectations are high, but more than half of those looking for PMET professionals expect at least two to five years to spend on the job somewhere.

Only one in five is willing to hire new recruits.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the industry:

If you are a recent graduate or someone with no work experience, your best chance would be to look into the public sector, as it is the most open to people without a long CV. It pays well and looks for applicants with a higher education.

So, if you have a degree but are fighting for a job, maybe look at what management or education has to offer.

How much do they pay?

Finally, let’s talk about money.

Here is a list of the 10 most in-demand PMET jobs, compiled from data collected in 2025, and the salaries you can expect.

Top 10 PMET Vacancies in 2025

The podium is filled with the same activities as last year, alternating between second and third place. But it is teachers who are still in high demand, while the top belt puts their salary above S$100,000 a year. It’s not bad.

Software developers and related IT professionals are still in high demand—and well paid, of course Electronics Engineers, System Analysts again Financial Advisors.

Some jobs may not be as lucrative, but their availability should make up for it, as many Singaporeans (including young people) are looking for a way to enter the labor market.

• Read other articles we’ve written about Singapore businesses here.

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