Singapore Talent Market · 2027
Singapore’s Top 10 Recruitment Agencies for 2027
Who to hire with, what they cost, and how to choose a partner when 72% of employers face skills shortages.
The hiring climate
A competitive market for talent
37%of employers plan to increase headcount
72%cite skills shortages as a hiring challenge
53%cite high salary expectations
83%of job-seekers expect pay rises above 10%
Source: Robert Walters Singapore Salary Survey 2026, as cited in the 9cv9 article.
The ranking
The 2027 league table
Ten agencies, ranked in the 9cv9 editorial list. Fee figures are indicative ranges for permanent placements, quoted as a share of annual salary.
1
9cv9 Recruitment Agency
Tech-oriented regional sourcing
Cross-border talent across 6 markets: SG, MY, VN, ID, TH, PH
10 specialisationsStartup & SME ready
2
Michael Page Singapore
Specialist consultants, PageGroup
34 countries · 123 offices · Salary Guide 2026 covers 400+ roles
20–25%Fee · 60–90 day guarantee
3
Robert Walters Singapore
In Singapore since 1997
APAC net fee income £121.2M · candidate NPS +56
18–25%Fee · up to 90 day guarantee
4
Randstad Singapore
28+ years in Singapore
39 markets · Salary Guide covers 600+ roles across 11 sectors
15–25%Fee · terms vary
5
Hays Singapore
Contract and permanent at scale
155 offices · ~243,000 placements in FY2026
18–25%Fee · ~90 day guarantee
6
Robert Half Singapore
Finance and accounting specialist
Founded 1948 · Salary Guide 2026 survey of 300 professionals
15–25%Fee · permanent roles
7
Korn Ferry Singapore
C-suite and board search
Leadership assessment and succession planning
≈33%Retained · base + est. bonus
8
JAC Recruitment Singapore
In Singapore since 1987
Cross-border hiring for Japanese multinationals · Tokyo-listed group
BilingualManufacturing · Finance
9
Morgan McKinley SingaporeRanked in the 2027 list
10
Adecco SingaporeRanked in the 2027 list
The price of a hire
Indicative permanent-placement fees
Most mainstream agencies sit between 15% and 25% of annual salary. Retained executive search is priced differently.
Randstad
15–25%
Robert Half
15–25%
Robert Walters
18–25%
Hays
18–25%
Michael Page
20–25%
Korn Ferry (retained)
≈33%
10%15%20%25%30%35%
% of annual salary. Korn Ferry: a publicly available proposal cited “one-third of the candidate’s annual base salary and estimated bonus”. Ranges are indicative, not confirmed contract terms.
60–90 daysMichael Page replacement guarantee in some agreements
About 90 daysRobert Walters (up to 90) and Hays (about 90) in some agreements
12 monthsOne documented Korn Ferry engagement, for performance-related departures
The playbook
How to choose your partner
1
Compare fees in writingRequest a written quotation. Confirm placement percentages and what is included.
2
Match expertise to the roleChoose the agency whose sector focus fits your hire, from finance to tech to executive search.
3
Test candidate quality and speedAsk about sourcing, assessment and realistic timelines before you sign.
4
Lock in the guaranteeConfirm replacement terms, exclusions and the contracting entity.
Read the full 2027 guideAgency profiles, specialisations, services and fee notes in one place.
blog.9cv9.com
Source: “Top 10 Best Recruitment Agencies in Singapore for 2027”, 9cv9 (blog.9cv9.com), published 8 Nov 2026. Rankings are the publisher’s own editorial list and fee ranges are indicative. Agency statistics are group-level figures as cited in the article.