Hays Construction & Engineering - July 2010
Hotspots
The civil and infrastructure sector is recovering quickly, fuelled by the underground rail network and the MRT line, which is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Specific senior positions are still highly sought on a needs basis. From a contractor's perspective, the emphasis is on local experience. There are however a few employers that will still welcome expats with some local market knowledge and experience.
The coming quarter
Two major multi-billion dollar entertainment complexes are nearing the end of construction so employee availability will increase noticeably over the coming months however the construction market in Singapore is never stagnant. The latest multi-billion dollar project that has been delayed for more than two years is about to finally commence.
The major contractor awarded the design and build work will need senior employees for a number of positions. The project is expected to take three years.
The next component of Singapore's impressive rail network is set to kick off soon, and it expected to create several key positions, which again will see demand for Project Managers, Senior QS and Design Managers, amongst most several other key opportunities. This will be an exciting time for all engineers and contractors involved in the bidding process.
Employer trends
There are large numbers of Singaporeans returning from the Middle East. Employers are carefully scanning the local market for these candidates as they can't expect similar salary packages locally.
Many construction contractors that have had a strong presence in Singapore are either tendering for or have started to commence building projects in South East Asia. Inevitably, during the tender and award stage, recruitment should increase again. Employers are seeking highly skilled individuals to join their tendering team to ensure successful award process and then again, candidates who can carry out the project.
At the moment, employers are interested in articulate and educated candidates, particularly those who can handle multiple roles simultaneously.
Candidates with formal accreditations or associations are currently a shortage in Singapore.
Candidate trends
Candidates are interested to see what other employment options are available to them. Performance recognition and salary increases are high on the agenda.
Candidates are very open to moving overseas, with China and Australia both attracting a lot of interest. While some employees still request salaries similar to what they were formerly receiving, others are aware that this is unrealistic in Singapore.
