SINGAPORE, Sept 1 — Employers with plans to hire in the next 12 months would be looking to recruit professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). Conversely, those intending to reduce hiring over the same period are likely to cut the headcount for job positions such as clerks, service and sales workers.

About a third of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and about one in 10 large companies are looking to close a segment of their business or the whole company. 

These were some of the findings from a survey done by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) that were released yesterday.

The survey also found that most employers are prepared to hire mid-career individuals. 

Overall, more than 60 per cent of large companies and SMEs expect the current economic uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to continue over the next 12 months. 

The two-week survey, launched on Aug 7, gathered responses from 225 companies, out of which 83 per cent of them were SMEs and the rest were large companies. 

Key findings

Top three challenges faced by businesses over the next 12 months: