By Ethan Ang, CEO and Co-founder, Nodeflair | 23 Apr 2025
I recently took a deep dive into our 2025 Tech Salary Report, and there’s a lot to unpack. If you’re working in tech, or even thinking about making a move into the industry, here are some trends, challenges, and opportunities every job seeker should know.
Compensation Trends
Let’s start with the good news: software engineers are seeing a rebound, with salaries rising by 3.3% after a dip last year. That’s a promising sign that demand is picking up again.
But not all roles are riding the same wave. AI-related positions, despite all the hype, actually saw a slight drop in salaries (around 1.2% to 2.4%). It’s a reminder that buzz doesn’t always translate directly into compensation—at least, not right away.
(If you’re keen on the numbers, check out the press release for a more detailed breakdown.)
Challenges job seekers should be aware of
Lately, quite a few friends in tech have reached out, asking how the job market’s doing. Some are job hunting, others impacted by layoffs — and many are worried about landing a role that pays competitively.
While many of us are getting used to news on tech layoffs, accepting it’s no longer a red-hot market (when >30% pay hikes weren’t uncommon in 2021/22), and the world getting more uncertain (not to mention the “roti prata” tariffs), it is important we stay hopeful with positive expectation of good!
While there’s definitely opportunity out there, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out a few things to keep an eye on:
Salary dips in specific areas
Job stability remains important
Economic shifts are influencing hiring
AI is transforming the nature of work
(For even more perspective, check out the Q&A with tech leaders on page 78 of the report—it’s full of great insights.)
Singapore remains a key player in the region
Singapore continues to be a key player in Asia’s tech landscape. Competitive salaries, a strong innovation ecosystem, and national initiatives like the Smart Nation drive are helping position us at the forefront—especially in fast-growing sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and fintech.
That said, I’ve noticed a quiet trend where some companies are adjusting their headcount strategies—sometimes choosing not to backfill roles after attrition, or offering staff options to relocate to other markets like India.
It doesn’t signal a loss of confidence in Singapore, but more a reflection of how global companies are optimising their operations across multiple hubs. It’s something to watch, but not something to panic over.
Skills in demand in 2025 (and beyond)
If you’re thinking about how to future-proof your career, here’s where I’d focus:
- Fullstack Development: Still a core skill across industries.
- Data Science, AI, and ML: If you can build smart systems or make sense of big data, you’re going to be in demand.
- Cybersecurity: With digital threats growing, this is a space that will only become more important.
- Cloud Computing: As companies continue shifting to the cloud, the ability to manage that infrastructure is a major plus.
In short: the tech job market is evolving, and fast. But if you stay adaptable, keep learning, and focus on the skills that set you apart from AI, you’ll be in a great position to ride the next wave of opportunity.
P.S. If you want to learn more about working in Singapore, here are some useful resources:
Meet Ethan Ang
Ethan Ang is the Founding Director of NodeFlair, a career platform for technology talents in Asia. Since founding in 2018, NodeFlair has raised ~US$2.8M in funding and grown its platform to >500k monthly sessions and live across 8 Asian countries.
Connect with him here.
