Singapore remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for global hiring, thanks to its business-friendly regulations, deep talent pool, and role as a leading Asia-Pacific headquarters. As international expansion accelerates, demand for staffing agencies in Singapore and modern global hiring solutions continues to grow.

While recruitment agencies play an important role in talent sourcing, they are no longer the only or always the most effective option for global employers. HR leaders today must weigh traditional staffing models against Employer of Record (EOR) services in Singapore, which enable faster market entry and full compliance.

This guide explains how staffing companies operate in Singapore, their advantages and limitations, highlights top staffing agencies, and explores why the EOR model led by Asanify is becoming the preferred approach for scalable, compliant hiring.

Why Singapore Remains a Top Hiring Destination for Global Companies

Singapore remains a top hiring destination due to its stable regulatory environment, highly skilled and multilingual workforce, and strong intellectual property protections. Global companies benefit from transparent labor laws, efficient business processes, and seamless access to Asia-Pacific markets. Its reputation as a regional headquarters hub also makes Singapore ideal for leadership, technology, and compliance-critical roles.

Singapore’s Talent Market: Skills, Scale, and Stability

Singapore’s workforce is highly educated, multilingual, and globally competitive. The country excels in sectors such as technology, financial services, healthcare, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. For global companies, hiring in Singapore means access to professionals with regional experience and international exposure.

That said, Singapore’s talent market is also premium-priced. Salaries are among the highest in Asia, and competition for skilled professionals is intense. This makes efficient hiring, strong employer branding, and local market knowledge essential key reasons why many companies turn to a staffing agency in Singapore or a specialized hiring partner.

Hiring Challenges Foreign Companies Face in Singapore

Despite its business-friendly reputation, Singapore has a tightly regulated employment framework. Foreign companies often struggle with:

• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) compliance
  
• Employment Pass and S Pass eligibility
  
• Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions
  
• Local employment contracts and termination rules
  

Traditional recruitment agencies can help find talent, but they usually do not assume legal employer responsibility. This gap is where many global companies begin exploring Employer of Record services in Singapore to reduce risk and complexity.

What Does a Staffing Agency in Singapore Do?

A staffing agency in Singapore primarily helps companies source, screen, and shortlist qualified candidates for permanent, contract, or temporary roles. These agencies leverage local market knowledge, salary benchmarks, and talent networks to speed up hiring. However, they typically focus on recruitment support and do not assume responsibility for payroll, statutory compliance, or legal employment obligations.

Core Services Offered by Staffing and Recruitment Agencies

A typical staffing company in Singapore focuses on talent acquisition rather than employment management. Their services usually include:

• Candidate sourcing and screening
  
• Shortlisting and interview coordination
  
• Permanent and contract placements
  
• Temporary workforce support
  

For companies with an established Singapore entity and HR team, these services can be sufficient. Staffing agencies offer speed and access to local networks, which is especially valuable in a competitive hiring market.

Temporary vs Permanent Recruitment Agencies in Singapore

Temporary recruitment agencies specialize in short-term or project-based hiring. They are commonly used in industries like logistics, retail, healthcare, and IT support. While this model offers flexibility, it often comes with limitations:

• Limited control over long-term talent strategy
  
• Higher hourly costs over time
  
• Compliance risks if worker classification is unclear
  

Permanent recruitment agencies, on the other hand, focus on full-time placements but still leave employment compliance and payroll management to the employer.

Staffing, Recruiting, and EOR: Which Hiring Model Fits Your Business?

Choosing the right hiring model is essential for achieving your workforce and growth goals in Singapore. Whether you’re looking for short-term flexibility, long-term stability, or compliant international expansion, each model offers distinct advantages. This section breaks down the key differences to help you make an informed decision.

Hiring Models Used by Singapore Staffing Providers

Singapore’s dynamic business landscape demands flexible hiring models that adapt to rapid changes in market demands, talent availability, and project cycles. Staffing agencies in Singapore typically offer a range of models tailored to various hiring objectives from temporary help during peak seasons to long-term strategic workforce planning. Below is an in-depth look at the most common hiring models used by staffing providers in Singapore:

Temporary (Contingent) Staffing

Temporary or contingent staffing is ideal for businesses that need to respond quickly to fluctuating workloads or unexpected absences. This model involves hiring employees on short-term contracts to meet seasonal demand, fill gaps due to leave or attrition, or support one-off projects. These workers are employed by the staffing agency but deployed to the client organization.

• Ideal for: Holiday season, product launches, maternity coverage, or urgent operational gaps
• Employer burden: Minimal staffing agency handles payroll, CPF, and compliance
• Duration: A few days to several months, depending on the project scope

Contract-to-Hire

The contract-to-hire model allows businesses to evaluate a candidate’s skills, cultural fit, and performance before making a permanent job offer. The employee is initially placed on a contract through the staffing agency, with the option for the client to convert them into a full-time hire at the end of the contract period.

• Ideal for: Reducing hiring risk, building confidence before offering permanent roles
• Benefits: Flexibility for both employer and candidate; performance-tested hiring
• Conversion: Typically after 3–6 months of satisfactory performance

Direct Hire

In a direct hire model, the staffing agency is responsible for sourcing, screening, and recommending candidates, but the selected candidate is hired directly by the client company. This model is often used for full-time or permanent roles that require specific qualifications or leadership experience.

• Ideal for: Filling specialized, long-term roles in tech, finance, and executive functions
• Agency role: End-to-end recruitment from job advertising to candidate negotiation
• Employment: Candidate joins your organization directly from day one

Managed Teams

Under the managed teams model, staffing agencies take responsibility for assembling and managing entire project teams for clients. These teams may include developers, analysts, support staff, or operational specialists and are often managed remotely. The agency handles everything hiring, payroll, HR, compliance, performance tracking, and reporting.

Benefits: End-to-end workforce management with guaranteed performance benchmarks

Ideal for: Companies seeking to outsource specific functions or scale quickly without infrastructure investment

Popular in: IT development, customer support, compliance, and back-office operations

Suggested Read: EOR Singapore: A Detailed Guide on Employer of Record 2025

The 10 Leading Staffing Agencies in Singapore in 2026

Singapore’s staffing landscape is diverse and competitive, with both global players and homegrown firms offering a wide spectrum of services. These agencies stand out in 2026 for their strong industry focus, regulatory compliance, workforce scalability, and client satisfaction. Below is a curated list of the top staffing agencies that cater to businesses of all sizes and hiring needs.

• Asanify
• Adecco Singapore
• Randstad Singapore
• ManpowerGroup Singapore
• Michael Page Singapore
• PersolKelly Singapore
• Hays Singapore
• Recruit Express
• EPS Consultants
• Sciente International

1. Asanify

Asanify is a tech-driven global Employer of Record and staffing solution that specializes in simplifying hiring, onboarding, and compliance in Singapore and over 100 countries. Its robust platform caters to startups, SMBs, and enterprises looking for a flexible hiring partner with strong compliance expertise.

Key Features:

• Integrated EOR and staffing services
• EP and S Pass visa sponsorship
• Payroll, CPF, and tax compliance
• Onboarding automation and contract generation
• Global talent hiring capability

2. Adecco Singapore

Adecco is one of the most recognized staffing brands worldwide and operates extensively in Singapore. With a strong presence in logistics, manufacturing, and administrative staffing, Adecco is ideal for companies seeking high-volume hiring with localized expertise.

Key Features:

• Contract, temp, and permanent staffing
• Workforce outsourcing solutions
• Local labor market intelligence
• Onsite staffing and management

3. Randstad Singapore

Randstad is a global leader in recruitment and staffing, with specialized divisions for technology, engineering, and life sciences in Singapore. Its combination of global resources and local insight helps clients scale teams quickly.

Key Features:

• Sector-specific recruitment consultants
• Temp and direct hire support
• HR solutions including RPO and MSP
• Talent data insights and benchmarking

4. ManpowerGroup Singapore

ManpowerGroup offers extensive staffing and workforce solutions across all major sectors. Its strength lies in its ability to provide scalable manpower for both white-collar and blue-collar roles, with added services like talent assessment and workforce analytics.

Key Features:

• Large candidate database for contract staffing
• End-to-end HR services and outsourcing
• Talent development and upskilling programs
• Payroll and compliance support

5. Michael Page Singapore

Michael Page is best known for its focus on specialist recruitment in mid-to-senior-level roles. Its Singapore office supports a wide range of industries from finance and legal to engineering and technology.

Key Features:

• Focus on permanent placements
• Industry-specific recruitment teams
• Market mapping and talent pipelining
• Salary benchmarking and hiring guides

6. PersolKelly Singapore

PersolKelly is a joint venture between Kelly Services and PERSOL Group, offering both temporary staffing and HR consulting. Its strong APAC presence makes it a go-to partner for companies with regional operations.

Key Features:

• Contract staffing and temp-to-hire
• Payroll administration
• Business process outsourcing
• Strong manufacturing and healthcare focus

7. Hays Singapore

Hays is a professional recruiting group that specializes in permanent and contract placements. Known for its research-backed insights and salary data, Hays is often preferred for strategic and technical roles.

Key Features:

• Permanent and contract hiring
• Hiring guides and market insights
• Tech and engineering talent pool
• Candidate vetting and onboarding

8. Recruit Express

One of Singapore’s most prolific staffing firms, Recruit Express is known for quick placements in sectors like retail, healthcare, and administration. The firm is especially useful for high-volume or urgent hiring.

Key Features:

• Fast turnaround staffing services
• Large talent pool across junior roles
• Healthcare and support staffing
• Temporary staffing management

9. EPS Consultants

EPS offers specialized staffing and outsourcing services in IT and telecommunications. With both local and offshore hiring capabilities, it’s suitable for tech teams requiring both contract staff and long-term placements.

Key Features:

• Tech and IT recruitment
• Project outsourcing and managed teams
• Offshoring solutions
• Visa and work pass handling

10. Sciente International

Sciente focuses on technology staffing with a unique blend of consulting and recruitment services. Its clients often include financial institutions and consulting firms looking for hybrid skillsets.

Key Features:

• Specialized in BFSI and technology roles
• Contract and project-based staffing
• Data science and cybersecurity talent
• Local compliance and onboarding support

Detailed Comparison of Top 10 Staffing Agencies in Singapore

Navigating the talent landscape in Singapore requires choosing the right staffing partner one that aligns with your hiring needs, industry verticals, and compliance priorities. Whether you’re seeking temporary workers, permanent hires, or Employer of Record (EOR) solutions, the right agency can help you scale fast and remain compliant with Singapore’s labor laws.

Below is a comparison of the top 10 staffing agencies in Singapore, covering their focus areas, supported industries, hiring models, EOR and visa capabilities, and key strengths:

Which Singapore Cities Are Leading in Staffing Demand?

• CBD (Raffles Place, Marina Bay): Financial services, legal, executive support.
• One-North: Innovation and tech hub for startups, R&D labs, and MNCs.
• Jurong & Tuas: Industrial, energy, and logistics operations.
• Changi Business Park: IT, aviation, logistics, and customer service roles.
• Paya Lebar, Tampines, Novena: Administrative, healthcare, and retail staffing.

How to Select the Right Staffing Partner for Your Hiring Needs

Choosing the right staffing agency in Singapore is more than just finding someone who can fill job vacancies quickly. It involves a strategic evaluation of the agency’s strengths, compliance capabilities, technology infrastructure, and ability to scale with your business. Below are the key factors you should assess before selecting a recruitment or staffing partner:

1. Industry Alignment

The best staffing partners have deep expertise in your specific sector. Whether you operate in finance, healthcare, logistics, IT, or manufacturing, partnering with an agency that understands the nuances of your industry leads to faster placements and higher-quality candidates. Industry-aligned agencies are more likely to speak your language, understand technical job descriptions, and access passive candidates with niche skills. Always ask for case studies or success stories in your sector before signing an agreement.

2. Turnaround Time and Responsiveness

Speed is critical, especially when hiring for project-based or urgent roles. Evaluate how quickly the agency can shortlist qualified candidates and how responsive they are during the hiring process. A reliable agency should have a ready pipeline of vetted talent and the capability to deploy resources within days, not weeks. Look for SLAs (Service Level Agreements) on role closures and ask about average placement timelines.

3. Compliance Assurance

Singapore labor laws are stringent, particularly around CPF contributions, Employment Pass (EP) applications, S Pass quotas, and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regulations. Your staffing agency must be able to fully manage these compliance responsibilities, including salary benchmarking, fair employment practices, and proper employment contract structuring. Non-compliance could result in penalties or revocation of work passes, so ensure the agency is up to date with local regulations and licensed by MOM if required.

4. Candidate Quality and Vetting

Not all resumes are created equal. A strong staffing partner must have robust vetting processes, including multiple interview rounds, skill assessments, reference checks, and background verification. Inquire about their sourcing channels, how they pre-screen candidates, and whether they offer replacement guarantees for early attrition. High candidate quality reduces hiring risks and improves team productivity from day one.

5. Scalability and Geographic Reach

As your business grows especially across regions like Southeast Asia or globally you need a partner who can scale with you. Check whether the agency has cross-border hiring capabilities, a regional presence, and experience managing large-scale recruitment drives. This is especially important for companies that plan to expand across Malaysia, Indonesia, India, or other APAC markets.

6. Technology Integration and Automation

Modern staffing agencies offer more than just recruitment they provide technology-enabled solutions for onboarding, payroll management, timesheet tracking, and workforce analytics. Ask whether the agency uses applicant tracking systems (ATS), integrates with your HR tech stack, or provides client dashboards for visibility into hiring metrics. Automation ensures faster processing and improved compliance documentation.

Suggested Read: Labour Laws in Singapore: A Complete 2025 Guide for Employers and Employees

Why Global Companies Choose Asanify for Flexible, Global-Ready Hiring

In today’s dynamic global economy, companies require hiring solutions that are fast, compliant, and scalable. Asanify makes this possible by offering a unified platform that combines staffing and Employer of Record (EOR) services, enabling businesses to seamlessly hire and manage employees in Singapore and across 100+ countries without needing to set up a legal entity.

Whether you’re a startup entering a new market or a multinational scaling across Southeast Asia, Asanify removes the complexity of international HR operations. From compliant employment contracts to salary disbursement and visa processing, it’s an all-in-one solution built for modern global hiring.

Key Benefits of Using Asanify

• Compliant EOR service for Singapore: Hire full-time employees without setting up a local entity. Asanify acts as the legal employer, ensuring full compliance with Singaporean labor laws and MOM regulations.
• Automated payroll and CPF contribution management: Handle monthly payroll, itemized payslips, CPF deductions, and tax filings seamlessly through a local-compliant system.
• Visa sponsorship and EP/S Pass processing: Sponsor Employment Passes (EP) and S Passes for foreign employees. Asanify manages end-to-end application filing, documentation, and MOM coordination.
• Unified platform for contracts, onboarding, and salary disbursement: Generate employment contracts, onboard staff digitally, and pay employees all from a single dashboard with built-in compliance monitoring.
• Regional expansion support for Southeast Asia and beyond: Asanify supports hiring across 100+ countries, making it ideal for companies planning to expand beyond Singapore into broader APAC or global markets.

Conclusion

Staffing agencies remain valuable for talent sourcing, but in 2026, Employer of Record services in Singapore have become the smarter, safer choice for global expansion. For companies that want speed, compliance, and scalability, Asanify stands out as the #1 alternative to traditional staffing agencies in Singapore.

By handling employment, payroll, tax, and regulatory requirements end to end, Asanify removes the risks and delays of entity setup. This allows global HR leaders and founders to focus on building high-performing teams in Singapore without operational or compliance friction.

FAQs

Not to be considered as tax, legal, financial or HR advice. Regulations change over time so please consult a lawyer, accountant  or Labour Law  expert for specific guidance.