How big is Singapore’s retail sector?
Known as the retail hub of Southeast Asia, Singapore boasts a highly sophisticated retail market that draws consumers both from the local and tourist market. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the retail sector boasts over 22,000 establishments. It contributes nearly 1.4 percent of the GDP and three percent of total employment, making it a key sector for Singapore.
How is Singapore’s retail sector looking now?
Now that the pandemic restrictions are history, Singapore’s retail sector is already well on the way to recovery. While the pandemic significantly slowed down retail activities in the last two years, the shift towards hybrid work arrangements accelerated also accelerated the trend of online spending.
According to the retail sales index by the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), retail sales increased 3.6 percent in April 2023 on a year-on-year basis, following a 4.5 percent increase in March 2023. The estimated total retail sales value in April 2023 was $3.9 billion. Of this, online retail sales made up an estimated 12 percent.
Economists are expecting further growth in retail sales boosted by the tourism sector.
What are the job opportunities in Singapore’s retail sector?
As it stands, online channels remain important platforms for consumers in Singapore. Embracing the omnichannel approach, Singapore’s retail sector is expanding, generating diverse job opportunities across online platforms, logistics, customer experience, and technology-driven roles.
Read More: IT Skills That Will Help Your E-commerce Career Soar
According to Kenneth Wong, Director of the Trade and Lifestyle Division at Workforce Singapore, the retail sector has constantly been evolving because it has to meet the needs of the consumers. Kenneth elaborated: “The industry is very diverse; it has many different business models, and how they service their customers is also very different. So now we’ve gone into digital, and we’ve also gone into omni channels.”
“There’s a lot of different opportunities for the workforce so it really depends on what makes sense for the employers and what interests the jobseekers and the workers.”
As the retail sector turns up the recruitment volume, job opportunities abound. Here are some examples listed on the MyCareersFuture portal:
| Role | Salary Range |
| Retail Associate | $1,800 to $2,800 |
| Merchandiser | $2,200 to $2,700 |
| Market Research Associate | $2,500 to $4,600 |
| Digital Marketing Executive | $2,700 to $4,700 |
| Brand Executive | $2,800 to $4,500 |
| Area Manager | $3,800 to $5,500 |
| Distribution Analyst | $4,000 to $6,000 |
| Customer Service Manager | $4,100 to $6,500 |
| Data Analyst | $4,500 to $7,000 |
| Sales & Marketing Manager | $4,900 to $9,500 |
Jobseekers, check out jobs in retail here!
Contrary to popular belief, the employment landscape in Singapore’s retail sector today extends beyond the typical sphere of sales-focused roles such as retail assistants and cashiers. With the rise of e-commerce, specialised roles in the digital domain are in demand.
Read More: Considering a Career in Retail? These 5 Skills Will Put You in Demand
Azhar Anuwar, Decathlon Singapore’s talent acquisition specialist said: “In terms of digitisation, I believe that talents in digital marketing, data analysis, e-commerce management, and customer experience improvement are in great demand. Being data-driven entails making data-driven business decisions.”
On hiring, Azhar shared that the sporting goods retailer looks for candidates that have the aptitude for the operational aspects and those that embrace the entrepreneurial mindset. He elaborates:
“Apart from understanding customers and prioritising exceptional customer service, they should also have the drive to grow the business area they manage actively.”
Jobseekers, check out jobs in Decathlon here!
Where can I get help to make an industry switch to the retail sector?
Jobseekers or mid-career switchers keen on joining the sustainability sector can up their chances of landing a job by registering for the WSG Career Conversion Programme (CCP) with On-the-Job Training for the following job roles in retail:
- Retail: CCP for Retail Industry – with LHub (RnF New Hires)
- Retail: CCP for Retail Industry – with SIRS (PMET New Hires)
- Retail: CCP for Retail Industry – with SIRS (RnF New Hires)
- Retail: CCP for Retail Industry – with SRA (PMET New Hires)
- Retail: CCP for Retail Industry – with SRA (RnF New Hires)
If you need professional advice on navigating your career journey to the sustainability sector, register here to speak to a career coach!
