According to market reports, multinational companies are also establishing “dual hubs” in the region. This is accomplished by optimising costs with production sites in lower-cost countries and using Singapore’s advanced logistics infrastructure and facilities.
As it stands, the Singapore freight and logistics market size is expected to reach SGD 1.23tn by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
The country also continues to evolve as a major e-commerce market, expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% from SGD 7.8bn in 2021 to SGD 14.2bn in 2025.
In addition, Singapore has also continued to develop its supply chain capabilities, with various government agencies working with the logistics sectors to add value to areas such as cold-chain management and retail and pharmaceutical logistics. A data infrastructure foundation will also be built to share secure data across supply chains.
As such, we spoke to Jenny Leong, Manager, Diploma in International Trade & Logistics at Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Business about current hiring trends and industry-specific interview questions. She shares her wisdom here.
Can you share the current hiring trends for your particular industry of expertise? What are employers looking for, what is the industry outlook, and what skills are they prizing?
The Singapore logistics industry is expected to grow over the next five years, fuelled by factors such as the expansion of e-commerce, investments in logistics infrastructure, and the development of higher value-added services by Logistics Service Providers (LSP).
As such, the hiring trends for the logistics industry remain strong and positive.
Employers are increasingly seeking candidates with expertise in data analytics to optimise logistics processes, automation to automate/digitalise workflow and specialised skills that allow companies to shift towards higher-value logistics services.
What industry-specific questions tend to be asked during interviews in your industry, and how are they best answered?
Industry-specific questions would depend on candidates’ relevant experience for the role they are applying for.
Employers would usually like to find out if a candidate is involved in any relevant projects or has successfully managed any logistics-related challenges in their previous job role.
An example of a challenge would be how a candidate handles unexpected delays or disruptions in the supply chain; for example, the Red Sea attack in Dec 2023 caused significant delays due to congestion and increased freight costs due to the rerouting of vessels.
Compliance with international trade regulations is also a key aspect of the industry, and there will be questions for the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge on how they stay updated with regulatory changes and ensure compliance.
Are there any particular jobs in your industry that also have very specific questions, and how are they best answered?
For functional roles in freight operations or contract logistics, experience with the various logistics management systems – such as TMS or WMS – will be crucial.
For freight operations, the ability to troubleshoot issues with a shipment or for contract logistics, the ability to design efficient operation processes and maintain good inventory accuracy are some examples.
Are there any technical or skill tests (written, hands-on or project) that could accompany an interview as part of the hiring process for any roles in your industry? What are they usually like, and what is the best way to approach them?
For those keen on joining the logistics scene, don’t worry; this is not usually practised in our industry!
This article was done in collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic.
