Jobstreet by SEEK has unveiled a report titled “The Great Expectation Gap: Rethinking Work and Worth in Singapore,” revealing a significant disconnect between employee expectations and workplace realities. The study, conducted with Milieu Insight, surveyed 800 employees and employers, highlighting that eight in ten employees feel their jobs do not match initial promises, with six in ten recognising this within the first three months.
The report identifies key causes of job mismatch, including pay misalignment (24%), unclear roles (22%), and culture mismatch (19%). Mid-career professionals aged 35–44 are most affected, with 62% spotting discrepancies early on. Younger workers, aged 25–34, often find job scopes differ from advertisements, whilst older employees, aged 45–54, notice mismatches in benefits and recognition.
Despite these challenges, employees are making pragmatic trade-offs. Nearly half (49%) would trade prestige for a better workplace culture, and 32% would accept less job security for higher pay. Employers, facing skills shortages (44%) and budget pressures (39%), are also adapting, with 64% willing to hire less-experienced candidates for lower pay.
Yuh Yng Chook, Director of Asia Sales and APAC Service at Jobstreet, noted, “The expectation gap is a reflection of how quickly Singapore’s employment landscape is evolving.” The report suggests that bridging this gap requires a shared understanding of fairness, focusing on competitive pay, culture alignment, and transparent communication.
