Remote's recent Global Workforce Report found that 71% of Singapore businesses missed a key business goal in the past 12 months because they could not find the right people.
This results in the growth of the global workforce, with the average Singapore-based white-collar company now employing talent in 3 or more countries. HR leaders expect this figure to grow sharply in 2026. Talent retention is also vital, but only 56% of business and HR leaders in Singapore rate their company's performance and development processes as excellent for supporting retention, falling short of the 62% global average.
Payroll and expansion barriers
As the global workforce grows in Singapore, the study showed that 45% of Singapore businesses face blocked overseas hires due to payroll setup issues.
Moreover, strict security and data protection requirements (41%), keeping up with compliance across different locations (36%), and managing too many disconnected tools and vendors (35%) are challenging businesses in Singapore.
"Relying on fragmented, manual processes for international payroll exposes growing companies to unnecessary risks and slows down their momentum," said Barry Flanagan, vice president of Payroll at Remote. Automated payroll tools provide the support businesses need to scale sustainably across borders. When you combine reliable payroll with a genuine commitment to pay transparency, you build a strong foundation of trust. Employees who know they will be paid accurately and on time stay longer and drive the business forward."
