MOST Singaporeans see contract work as a way of broadening their experience and gaining job flexibility, rather than a mere stop-gap between jobs, according to a recent poll by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.

When asked about their main motivation for taking on contract work, 32.5 per cent of Singaporean respondents said that they saw contract work as a way of broadening their experience and gaining exposure to different industries.

A further 31.3 per cent said that contract work was a way to gain flexibility in their working life, while 26.5 per cent saw such work as a way to experience different roles, and hence help them decide on their career direction.

Just 9.6 per cent of Singaporeans said they would take on contract work as a stop-gap between permanent jobs - fewer than the 17 per cent of all respondents who chose that option. The online poll attracted about 1,000 respondents from around the world, including some 170 Singaporeans. Exposure to different sectors was the top reason chosen by both Singaporeans and respondents in general, with over half of global respondents citing that as their main motivation.

Said Mark Ellwood, managing director at Robert Walters Singapore: 'Young workers no longer consider a single 'job for life' and are demanding more experience throughout their working life in different industries, creating a generation of 'motivated movers'. There is no doubt that this adds to their CV and attraction to employers.'

According to Robert Walters, the contract market is a fast-growing sector in Singapore, particularly in the information technology industry. Salaries for contracting professionals have risen and financial institutions have also started to realise the benefits of recruiting contract staff for projects, said the firm.

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