Singapore is among the happiest cities on the planet—however are employees actually glad?
Up to now three years, Singapore has persistently been among the many world’s happiest cities, putting third in 2025. Nevertheless, the most recent Jobstreet by SEEK Office Happiness Index reveals a hanging hole between expectation and actuality.
Whereas 81% of employees in Singapore consider that office happiness is achievable, solely 56% truly expertise it. This “aspiration hole” locations Singapore second to final on APAC happiness rankings, simply above Hong Kong’s 47%, and beneath neighbours Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Right here’s what Vulcan Submit discovered, and what employers can do to shut the happiness hole.
The “Joyful however burnt out” paradox
Even in Singapore’s high-pressure setting, a “good” job can take a severe psychological and bodily toll, even on employees who contemplate themselves ‘glad’.
Virtually half of the employees surveyed reported feeling burnt out or exhausted by their work, with 41% in that class describing themselves as “glad”. Equally, among the many 39% who usually dread going to work, 34% nonetheless describe themselves as glad: a transparent illustration of conflicting feelings at work.
The survey has options for employers. Leaders can bridge this hole by investing in worker well-being past routine check-ins. Advantages might embody subsidised health club memberships, month-to-month wellness allowances, or confidential counselling companies.
Cash just isn’t the reply to happiness; autonomy does
Whereas cash is the commonest demand, with 64% rating wage amongst their prime 5 happiness drivers, cash alone not often ensures satisfaction.
Happiness peaks at 72% for these incomes above S$10,000 per thirty days, however half of those excessive earners nonetheless expertise vital burnout. This implies that greater salaries usually come at the price of work-life stability, diminishing the perks of incomes extra.
Age and life pressures additionally form office happiness. Millennials, the so-called Sandwich Technology, reported the bottom happiness (52%) and highest stress-related dissatisfaction (31%), usually as a result of caregiving duties. In distinction, child boomers had been the happiest (71%), doubtless benefiting from larger autonomy and significant freelance roles.
Salaries aren’t the important thing to lasting happiness: objective is, and solely 50% of Singaporeans discover it of their roles. Employers might help by providing tasks aligned with workers’ pursuits and strengths, and profession improvement plans that help particular person targets, additionally make a distinction.
Why ought to employers care?
Jobstreet’s report confirmed that glad workers ship ROI: they’re 5 occasions extra more likely to go the additional mile and 37% much less more likely to job-hop. 87% of sad employees usually contemplate leaving, in contrast with 50% of glad workers, exhibiting that happiness nonetheless boosts loyalty and eases recruitment and coaching pressures.
Office happiness can also be a two-way road: 85% of workers see it as a shared accountability, signalling that conventional perks alone aren’t sufficient. By actively addressing workers’ wants and fostering transparency, employers empower employees.
The outcome? Extra resilient, profitable operations that profit everybody.
Learn the total report right here.
Learn extra articles we’ve written on job developments right here.
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