As per Mercer’s latest, Singapore Employee Engagement Index only 54 percent employees in Singapore feel that they are compensated fairly for what they do, as compared to 59 percent in APAC and 56 percent globally.

Further 77 percent of employees in Singapore feel that they can be innovative in their job and 63 percent believe their career goals can be met at their companies. However, despite the growing importance of skilling, only 70 percent of the employees feel they have enough opportunity to continually learn and grow. While this percentage looks fairly good for the region it falls behind when compared to other countries in the region. 

The report reveals that employees in Singapore are less enthusiastic about their employers relative to regional and global peers. In the entire APAC region maximum engagement is reported by employees in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam (82 percent), followed by India and China (81 percent).

Source: Mercer Singapore Employee Engagement Index

While Thailand and Malaysia reported engagement scores of 80 percent and 74 percent, respectively, Singapore recorded second lowest percentage in the region. 

In addition to that, Singaporeans are less likely to endorse their organizations as good employers with 67 percent of employees willing to advocate for their companies as good places to work, compared to 76 percent of employees in APAC.

Although Singapore struggles in terms of employee engagement, it is at a better place when it comes to the work culture. While 78 percent experience a spirit of cooperation and teamwork within the work unit, some still struggle in collaborating with people from different parts of the company. 

“Singapore is a country at the forefront of digital transformation. While the focus on strategy and structure in Singapore has served leaders well thus far, there is now a need to place more emphasis on the stewardship of the social elements in companies. We see this data as an urgent call for leaders in Singapore to shift their focus and lift their capability to be more effective ‘social architects’ and cultural champions,” says Peta Latimer, CEO, Mercer Singapore and Lewis Garrard Engagement Practice Leader Growth Markets Region.