A recent report by Randstad has revealed that more than 3 in 5 workers in Singapore believes they will have more job opportunities after they receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The H1 2021 Workmonitor (Singapore) is a bi-annual survey that highlights the workforce’s latest sentiments and perceptions of the local job market.
More specifically, up to 62 percent of local respondents agreed that they will have more employment opportunities in the future if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, only 49 percent of respondents in Hong Kong SAR felt the same way.
“The vaccination roll out programme in Singapore has clearly injected a new level of confidence and assurance in our workforce. This sentiment is in line with the improving business confidence that we’ve observed since Q4 2020, where more companies started to hire new headcounts. As economic prospects become more optimistic, we can expect the uptick in hiring activities to reach pre-COVID levels in Singapore soon,” said Jaya Dass, Managing Director for Randstad Malaysia and Singapore.
In addition to this, the report also reveals that up to 70 percent of survey respondents say that they are willing to return to the workplace once there is an ease in restrictions. Interestingly, this number is actually among the lowest in the region.
The hesitation to return to the workplace is likely to be attributed to health and safety concerns. Two in three local respondents have expressed their preference to work from home until the COVID-19 vaccine has been more widely distributed among the populace. Others have voiced their concern over their safety, stating that they would be more willing to return to the office once their colleagues have been innoculated.
“There is a different type of energy when working in the office. Employees are able to interact with one another in person, have more on-the-job learning opportunities, and for some, help draw a clear line between work and home. Employers will need to design new and inclusive workplace policies to protect both vaccinated and unvaccinated employees, while meeting the workforce’s increasing expectations for remote work,” said Dass.
