SINGAPORE – JPMorganChase climbed up to the top spot as Singapore’s best employer in an annual league table compiled by The Straits Times and global research company Statista.
The investment bank replaced tech giant Apple, which had topped the list for the past two editions. Apple ranked fourth this year.
Mr John McAlpine, JPMorgan’s head of human resources for Australia, New Zealand, South and South-east Asia, said the company believes in investing in people, as they are the foundation of a thriving, resilient and forward-looking workplace.
JPMorgan recently expanded its fertility benefits to include embryo storage for female employees and for spouses of male employees covered as dependants under the firm’s health insurance plans.
Sick leave coverage has also been broadened to include mental healthcare, caregiving responsibilities and preventive healthcare visits.
To help employees grow their careers, the company offers mentorship and leadership training.
Its operations automation vice-president Alan Khoo said the company has a culture where people “aren’t afraid to venture out of their comfort zones”.
JPMorgan’s operations automation vice-president Alan Khoo appreciates the company culture that encourages him step out of his comfort zone.
PHOTO: JPMORGANCHASE
“Coming from an audit background, I made a deliberate career switch because I wanted to deepen my skills in data analytics and automation, so having an environment that nurtures that growth is essential to me,” he said.
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore retained its second-place ranking in 2026. Other companies that improved their rankings included Singapore Airlines and Motorola Solutions Singapore. Both entered the top five, up from 13th and 16th place respectively in 2025.
Singapore’s Best Employers 2026 ranks the top 250 companies and institutions with at least 200 employees here.
The survey drew responses from thousands of employees from about 2,000 organisations in 27 sectors.
Global manufacturing firm Mitsui Chemicals Asia Pacific, a new entrant, came in at 17th place. Its president for the Asia-Pacific region Shigeki Yokota said the company regularly reviews its ways of working, including its flexible work arrangement. Depending on roles and operational needs, employees may work from home for up to two days a week or opt for flexible hours.
To better support employee wellbeing, the company also partnered a health service provider to offer confidential professional counselling services.
“The organisation performs better when our people are well supported,” said Mr Yokota.
Mr Patrick Tan, a plant general manager at Prime Evolue Singapore, a Mitsui Chemicals Group affiliate, said the company’s focus on putting people at the centre of its operations sits well with him.
“As we are in the chemicals industry, what matters most to me in my workplace is having a safe, trust-based environment where employees feel valued and supported,” he said.
The plant general manager at Prime Evolue Singapore, Mr Patrick Tan, said what matters most is having a safe, trust-based environment.
PHOTO: MITSUI CHEMICALS ASIA PACIFIC
He also appreciated the long-term stability and growth opportunities it offers, allowing him the flexibility to explore new roles and grow professionally.
Ms Wu Ruoh-Yiang, a Statista analyst, said the government services sector remains strong this year, with the highest number of ranked employers at 28. Most of the new entrants also came from this sector.
One of them is the Public Service Division (PSD), the best performer among ministries and statutory boards. Other new entrants include Singapore’s national water agency PUB and the Institute of Technical Education.
Ms Wu noted that while the sector’s strong performance may partly reflect the high concentration of government-related employers in Singapore, the results also indicate the sector’s consistent improvements in employee engagement.
PSD said it creates opportunities for employees to connect, recharge and grow. It also encourages staff to take part in workplace design and join interest groups to foster a sense of belonging.
Ms Shangeetha Kuruthevan, an assistant director in PSD’s workforce development cluster, said she appreciates that she can contribute to something larger than herself while continuing to develop both professionally and personally.
“What matters most to me in the workplace is having a sense of purpose and doing meaningful work that directly impacts Singaporeans’ lives,” she said.
Ms Shangeetha Kuruthevan, an assistant director at PSD, said having a sense of purpose and doing meaningful work are important to her.
PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
Amid widespread disruption from AI adoption and economic uncertainty, company leaders should communicate the intent of any changes proactively and transparently – even when details are not yet final, advised organisational psychology and HR strategy expert Eunice Grace Choong.
An organisation’s credibility also depends on its track record, added Ms Choong, a certified senior professional with the Institute for Human Resource Professionals.
“Employees remember how previous layoffs or restructures were handled, including whether people were treated fairly, communicated with dignity and supported meaningfully through redeployment or outplacement,” she said.
“Those experiences shape whether trust in management is reinforced or eroded over time.”
Thousands of participants completed an online survey between September and November 2025.
They were asked more than 50 questions about work-related topics and to rate their employers in areas such as salary, career growth potential, work environment and company image. They were also asked about their willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family members.
AI-related questions may be introduced in future editions, said Statista’s Ms Wu.
She added that employees in Singapore generally have positive feedback about their current employers over the past two years.
“These results suggest that despite economic and technological challenges, the overall level of employee satisfaction and perception of employer has remained consistent in Singapore,” she said.
