Talent Demand in the JS-SEZ (2026): Roles Companies Are Hiring For

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is expected to create new business and recruitment opportunities across both Singapore and Johor.

Established through a bilateral agreement between Singapore and Malaysia in January 2025, the JS-SEZ aims to improve the cross-border movement of goods and people, strengthen the regional business ecosystem, and attract investment by combining the complementary advantages of both locations.

Singapore provides access to regional headquarters, research and development capabilities, global connectivity, capital, and an international business ecosystem. Johor complements these strengths with industrial land, scalable operating capacity, a growing manufacturing base, and a skilled, comparatively cost-competitive workforce. This allows businesses to divide or integrate their operations across the two locations rather than choosing one market over the other.

The JS-SEZ officially promotes investment across 11 economic sectors:

1. Manufacturing
2. Logistics
3. Digital Economy
4. Business Services
5. Financial Services
6. Energy
7. Green Economy
8. Food Security
9. Health
10. Education
11. Tourism

As investment progresses across these sectors, demand is expected to grow for professionals who can establish new operations, manage expanding business functions, and coordinate activities between Singapore and Johor.

This article examines the industries most likely to drive recruitment demand in the JS-SEZ and what their expansion may mean for employers in 2026.

Industries Expected to Drive Talent Demand

Talent demand in the JS-SEZ is expected to develop across several industries rather than being concentrated in a single sector. As companies establish new facilities, expand regional operations, and divide business functions between Singapore and Johor, recruitment needs will grow across technical, operational, professional, and management functions.

The following industries are likely to be among the main drivers of recruitment demand as investment and business activity in the JS-SEZ continue to develop.

Manufacturing Will Remain a Major Driver of Recruitment

Manufacturing is one of the sectors showing the strongest level of investor interest in the JS-SEZ. Johor’s industrial capacity and land availability make it suitable for larger-scale production, while Singapore can continue to support regional management, innovation, research, financing, and access to international markets.

Manufacturing activities developing within the broader JS-SEZ ecosystem include:

• Electrical and Electronics
• Semiconductors
• Precision and Advanced Manufacturing
• Chemicals and Specialty Chemicals
• Medical Devices
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Aerospace Manufacturing and MRO
• Food Manufacturing

Official investment information published in 2026 indicates that high-value investments have been concentrated in areas including electrical and electronics, chemicals, medical devices, and other advanced manufacturing activities. Manufacturing was also among the sectors receiving the highest number of investor enquiries.

The resulting talent demand will not be limited to production manpower. Companies establishing or expanding facilities will also require people capable of setting up manufacturing operations, managing production capacity, maintaining quality and regulatory standards, improving processes, and coordinating technical activities across multiple sites.

Demand is therefore likely to grow across areas such as manufacturing operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, production planning, process improvement, automation, and plant management.

The development of more advanced facilities may also increase demand for professionals with experience in digital manufacturing, data-led production, industrial automation, and continuous improvement.

Logistics and Supply Chain Operations Will Expand Alongside Trade

Logistics is central to the JS-SEZ operating model because many businesses are expected to move goods, materials, components, and finished products between Singapore and Johor.

Business activities expected to expand include:

• Third-Party Logistics
• Freight Forwarding
• Warehousing and Distribution
• Regional Distribution Centres
• Global Distribution Centres
• E-commerce Fulfilment
• Industrial Logistics
• Healthcare and Cold Chain Logistics
• Customs and Cross-Border Transportation

The JS-SEZ is intended to make integrated supply chains more practical. Singapore-based companies can extend selected operations into Johor, while regional logistics providers can establish facilities for warehousing, stockpiling, distribution, and fulfilment.

Cross-border processes are also being improved. Measures introduced or under development include streamlined transshipment permits, QR-based immigration clearance, better business facilitation, and the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link, which is expected to improve passenger mobility when it begins operating.

In practice, expanding logistics operations will require more than additional warehouse capacity. Companies will need professionals who can manage inventory, transportation, procurement, customs processes, supply chain planning, service quality, and coordination among facilities, suppliers, and customers located in different markets.

Specialised logistics demand may also increase as industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics, and e-commerce expand. These sectors often require tighter controls over delivery time, temperature, security, compliance, and inventory visibility.

This is likely to increase competition for professionals with experience in regional logistics, regulated supply chains, cross-border trade, and integrated Singapore-Malaysia operations.

The Digital Economy Is Creating New Operational Demand

The Digital Economy is one of the JS-SEZ’s 11 promoted sectors and has already become an important area of investment in Johor.

Activities within this sector include:

• Data Centres
• Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure
• Cloud and Digital Infrastructure
• Enterprise Technology Services
• Digital Business Services
• Smart Manufacturing Technologies
• Data and Automation Solutions

Investor interest has been particularly strong in data centres and related digital infrastructure. Official Johor investment reporting also identifies data centres among the areas receiving the highest number of investor enquiries, alongside manufacturing and energy.

The impact on recruitment extends beyond technology companies themselves. As manufacturers, logistics providers, financial institutions, and service businesses adopt more automation and data-driven systems, they will also require people who can manage increasingly technology-enabled operations.

This may create demand across infrastructure operations, facilities management, system implementation, data management, cybersecurity, automation, technical support, compliance, and project delivery.

Data centres and other large digital facilities may also require specialised combinations of technical, engineering, facilities, safety, energy-management, and operational expertise. In response to these needs, talent-development initiatives in Johor have already begun focusing on areas such as data-centre operations, AI, Big Data, and advanced manufacturing.

Business Services Will Grow Alongside Industrial Expansion

The development of the JS-SEZ is not limited to factories, logistics facilities, and data centres. Business Services is also one of the officially promoted sectors.

Functions that companies may establish or expand in Johor include:

• Finance and Accounting Operations
• Human Resources
• Procurement
• Customer Support
• Shared Service Centres
• Corporate Administration
• Regional Operational Support
• Professional and Technical Services

For many companies, the JS-SEZ creates an opportunity to distribute business functions across Singapore and Johor.

A company may retain its regional headquarters, senior management, strategic functions, and customer-facing activities in Singapore while establishing larger operational teams or support functions in Johor. This structure allows the business to access the strengths of both markets while keeping teams geographically close.

As these operating models develop, employers are likely to require professionals who can work within multinational structures, follow regional processes, communicate across locations, and support stakeholders in Singapore and other markets.

The resulting demand may cover finance, human resources, procurement, administration, customer support, business operations, compliance, and shared-service management.

Financial Services May Create More Specialised Talent Demand

Financial Services is another promoted sector within the JS-SEZ. Interest in this area is particularly connected to the financial-services ecosystem developing in Johor, including activities linked to financial institutions, capital markets, and family-office services.

Financial-service activities developing within the broader ecosystem include:

• Financial Institutions
• Capital Market Services
• Family Office Services
• Corporate and Professional Services
• Financial Technology
• Compliance and Risk Support
• Wealth and Investment-Related Services

Official Johor investment information reported accumulated enquiries relating to financial institutions, capital markets, and family offices.

The recruitment impact may be more specialised and lower in volume than the demand created by manufacturing or logistics. However, businesses operating in regulated financial activities require experienced professionals who understand governance, compliance, risk, finance, corporate structures, and international clients.

The close connection with Singapore may be particularly relevant in this sector, as some businesses could maintain client relationships or strategic activities in Singapore while establishing selected support or operational functions in Johor.

Energy and the Green Economy Will Support Further Development

Energy and the Green Economy are both included among the JS-SEZ’s promoted sectors.

Relevant business activities may include:

• Energy Infrastructure
• Renewable Energy
• Energy Management
• Utilities
• Green Technology
• Resource-Efficiency Solutions
• Environmental Services
• Low-Carbon Business Activities

Energy is already one of the areas receiving significant investor enquiries. This reflects the large energy requirements associated with industrial facilities, data centres, logistics hubs, and continued urban development.

The expansion of energy-intensive industries is likely to increase demand for technical professionals involved in utilities, electrical systems, facilities, engineering, project management, energy efficiency, safety, and environmental compliance.

At the same time, companies operating in the JS-SEZ may face growing expectations to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This could create further demand for professionals capable of integrating sustainability, energy management, environmental standards, and commercial operations.

Health, Food Security, Education and Tourism Will Broaden the Employment Base

The JS-SEZ also promotes sectors that support the broader economic and social development of the region.

These include:

• Healthcare and Medical Services
• Biomedical and Health-Related Activities
• Food Production and Food Security
• Agriculture and Food Supply Chains
• Education and Training
• Technical and Vocational Education
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Visitor and Lifestyle Services

These industries may not all generate recruitment demand at the same pace. However, they contribute to the wider ecosystem required to support growing populations, new businesses, industrial investment, and cross-border mobility.

The health sector may generate demand in medical services, healthcare operations, biomedical activities, pharmaceutical supply chains, and regulated support functions.

Food Security may create opportunities across food manufacturing, agricultural supply chains, procurement, quality control, cold-chain logistics, and distribution.

Education will also be important because the success of the JS-SEZ depends on the availability of people with the skills required by expanding industries. Singapore and Malaysia have already established partnerships involving technical and vocational education and training to help align workforce development with industry needs.

Tourism and hospitality may benefit from improving connectivity and increased movement between Singapore and Johor, creating demand across hotel operations, attractions, food and beverage, travel services, and customer experience.

Cross-Border Operations Will Increase Demand for Regional Talent

One of the most important features of the JS-SEZ is that businesses do not necessarily need to relocate their entire operation from Singapore to Johor.

Instead, companies can establish integrated or “twinned” operations across both locations.

For example, Singapore may continue to house:

• Regional Headquarters
• Strategic Management
• Research and Development
• Innovation
• Regional Sales
• Financing and Corporate Functions

Johor may support:

• Large-Scale Manufacturing
• Warehousing and Distribution
• Operational Support
• Shared Services
• Technical Facilities
• Other Scalable Business Functions

This model is directly supported by the JS-SEZ framework, which encourages companies to combine Singapore’s connectivity and business ecosystem with Johor’s resources, workforce, industrial base, and operating capacity.

As a result, companies will need professionals who can work effectively across organisational and national boundaries.

This includes people who can communicate with regional stakeholders, coordinate work between Singapore and Malaysia, manage suppliers and customers across multiple locations, and operate within international business structures.

Candidates with experience in both markets may become especially valuable. However, the requirement is not limited to people who physically cross the border every day. Johor-based employees may support Singapore operations remotely, while Singapore-based employees may oversee projects or teams located in Johor.

The key capability is the ability to function within an integrated regional operation.

Talent Competition Is Likely to Increase

The JS-SEZ has moved beyond the planning stage and has already generated substantial business interest.

By November 2025, Singapore’s JS-SEZ Project Office had received more than 300 enquiries from Singapore companies and foreign multinational corporations. Manufacturing, logistics, and the digital economy were among the sectors represented, and Singapore SMEs accounted for nearly half of the enquiries.

Johor’s investment-facilitation centre also recorded strong interest during 2025, particularly in manufacturing, data centres, and energy. Official reporting identified a broader concentration of high-value investment in the digital economy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and financial services.

Not every enquiry will result in an operating facility or immediate recruitment. However, the level and concentration of interest indicate that employers may increasingly compete for similar technical, managerial, operational, and regional capabilities.

The strongest competition is likely to emerge for candidates who combine:

• Relevant Industry Experience
• Technical or Professional Expertise
• Management Capability
• Cross-Border or Regional Exposure
• Familiarity with Multinational Operations
• Communication Across Different Stakeholder Groups

Companies should therefore avoid assuming that a large local labour pool will automatically make specialised recruitment easy.

As more businesses enter the same industries, the availability of experienced candidates may become more limited, particularly for roles requiring specialised knowledge or the ability to establish new operations.

Companies Should Begin Workforce Planning Early

Companies expanding into the JS-SEZ may initially focus on investment approvals, facilities, infrastructure, capital expenditure, and operational planning. However, workforce planning should begin alongside these activities rather than after the physical operation has been established.

Recruiting experienced professionals may take longer than expected. This is particularly true when a company requires candidates with specialised technical knowledge, leadership experience, regulated-industry exposure, or the ability to coordinate operations across Singapore and Johor.

Early workforce planning allows employers to determine:

• Which Functions Will Be Based in Singapore
• Which Functions Will Be Based in Johor
• Which Roles Must Be Hired Before Operations Begin
• Which Skills Are Available Locally
• Where Cross-Border Experience Is Required
• Which Positions May Require Longer Recruitment Timelines
• How Compensation Should Reflect the Target Talent Market

It also helps companies distinguish between initial setup requirements and long-term operational hiring.

For example, the professionals needed to establish a plant, warehouse, data centre, or shared-service operation may differ from the people required to manage the business once it reaches a stable operating stage.

Businesses that begin hiring only after their facilities are ready may face delays if qualified candidates are already considering opportunities with other expanding employers.

Integrating recruitment into the overall expansion strategy can reduce this risk and provide companies with more time to assess the availability, expectations, and mobility of potential candidates.

What This Means for Employers

The JS-SEZ is expected to generate talent demand across a much wider range of industries than manufacturing alone.

Manufacturing, logistics, and the digital economy currently show particularly strong levels of investment interest. Business services, financial services, energy, the green economy, health, food security, education, and tourism will contribute additional demand as the broader economic ecosystem develops.

For employers, the main recruitment challenge may not simply be finding enough applicants. It will be finding professionals with the right combination of industry knowledge, operational experience, technical capability, and regional coordination skills.

Companies planning to expand should therefore connect their workforce strategy directly to their operating model.

They should consider which activities will remain in Singapore, which will be established in Johor, how the teams will work together, and which capabilities will be essential from the beginning.

Employers that make these decisions early will be better positioned to build effective teams and compete for experienced talent as investment in the JS-SEZ continues.

Need Support with Recruitment in the JS-SEZ?

Recruiting for an integrated Singapore-Johor operation requires more than filling individual vacancies. Employers need to understand the talent available in each market, identify which functions should be located on either side of the border, and find professionals capable of working within a cross-border business structure.

EPS Singapore supports companies recruiting talent across Singapore and Johor.

Whether you are establishing a manufacturing facility, expanding logistics operations, developing digital infrastructure, creating regional support functions, or building a cross-border team, our consultants can help identify candidates aligned with your operational and hiring requirements.

Learn more about our Recruitment Support for Cross-Border Talents in Singapore & Johor (JS-SEZ) or contact us to discuss your recruitment needs.