The big picture: Entry-level salaries for fresh graduates in Singapore increased by 2.5% year-on-year, while the number of entry-level jobs simultaneously fell by 3.2% from 2025 to 2026.

Why it matters: This trend indicates a tightening entry-level job market, forcing employers to offer higher pay for fewer positions, and signaling a shift in required skills for new hires.

Between the lines:

• 88.9% of job-seeking fresh graduates secured employment within six months in 2025, down from 91.2% in 2024.
• Data and AI roles are the most in-demand, cited by 64% of firms as top priorities.
• 59% of organizations are automating tasks, with 42% upskilling affected workers.

Staffing & HR impact: Staffing firms and HR departments must adapt recruitment strategies to focus on high-demand skills like AI and problem-solving, while also managing a more competitive landscape for entry-level talent.

The bottom line: The future workforce needs to be AI-literate and possess strong human skills to navigate a job market with fewer, but better-paying, entry-level roles.