MORE good news for Singapore workers on the job front.

The latest report by human resource consultancy Hudson indicate that more firms are raising headcount in the first quarter, paying bigger bonuses and boosting starting salaries of new recruits.

In a survey of over 400 executives across key business sectors last November, 51 per cent of the firms forecasted increased hiring in the first quarter – a sharp increase from the 34 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year. Only 4 per cent of respondents said that they will decrease headcount this quarter. This is the greatest quarterly jump ever seen since Hudson launched report in Asia in 1998.

Bonuses are also set to rise, with 50 per cent of employers expecting to pay year end bonuses of more than 10 per cent, compared to 28 per cent the previous year, while another 17 per cent expect to pay 20 per cent in bonuses. Employers in the banking and financial services sector plan to pay the highest bonuses, offering substantially more than they did last year, with nearly two-thirds – or 65 per cent – saying that bonuses will be more than 10 per cent while 35 per cent plan to give over 20 per cent.  Read more... (303 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)