Despite continued global economic uncertainty, job figures in Asia are showing robustness according to the Robert Walters Asia Job Index Q1 2013. The report stated there was an increase in job advertisements placed in Q1 of 20.6% across the APAC region. China reported a 23.8% rise in overall job advertisements throughout Q1 as a result of a strengthened economy, following appointment of its new leaders. China’s expansion of consumer and luxury goods into second- and third-tier cities also helped spur this growth in the world’s second-largest economy.
Property management jobs in Singapore increased by 11.9% in the quarter as the country continues to build new developments, however Singapore overall experienced a net drop in job numbers by 0.7% between Q4 2012 and Q1 2013. This may be partly due to an increasing number of low-margin businesses choosing to hub in Malaysia instead of Singapore as a result of the strengthening of the Singapore dollar and rising operating costs.
Matthew Bennett, Managing Director, Robert Walters Greater China commented, “Positive momentum in China has somewhat boosted confidence in Hong Kong. The financial services sector is also benefiting from an improving stock market, with 94% year-on-year growth in equity funds in the first two months of 2013.”
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
