Singapore, 04 March 2026 – A recent study highlighted that certification from the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP), Singapore’s national HR professional body, delivers significant and sustained benefits to certified HR professionals.

The findings suggest that professionalising HR is a labour-market investment that delivers tangible and measurable returns. By grounding skills development in recognised professional standards and certifications, HR practitioners are better positioned to add value to their organisations while enhancing their own employability. This is further supported by continuous professional development and a strong professional network that fosters mentorship and the sharing of best practices.

The study, conducted by the Ministry of Manpower’s Economics Department and featured in the Economic Survey of Singapore 2025 publication, analysed data from 8,350 unique local workers who received IHRP certifications between 2018 and 2024. The research provides robust evidence that professionalising HR through recognised certification standards generates real returns for HR practitioners.

Key Findings

The study found that IHRP certification:

• • Increased wages by 1.9% in the year of certification, with the impact rising to between 4.5% and 6.5% over the following three years
  • Improved the likelihood of being employed by approximately 1 percentage point on average

In particular, the Certified Professional (CP) certification generated sustained wage and employment gains in the years following certification, while the gains from the Senior Professional (SP) certification were most pronounced in the year immediately after certification.

“These findings validate that investing in professional development through IHRP certification strengthens both individual careers and organisational capabilities,” said Aslam Sardar, CEO of IHRP. “Professional certification is not just a milestone, it marks the start of a commitment to continuous learning. At IHRP, we support this journey by providing opportunities, a strong professional community, and a progressive pathway for continued development through recertification, enabling HR professionals to grow into senior HR leaders. The data shows that those who anchor their skills upgrading in recognised professional standards are better positioned to add value to their organisations whilst strengthening their own employability.”

Certification Drives Professional Growth

The research showed that the wage benefits of certification grow over time, with certified professionals experiencing greater wage increases in the years following certification compared to the year they were certified. This pattern suggests that certified professionals require time to fully apply and demonstrate their enhanced competencies to employers, with their value becoming increasingly evident as they leverage their strengthened capabilities.

For CP-certified professionals, the study found wage increases of 1.9% in the certification year, growing to between 4% and 6% over the subsequent three years. These professionals also experienced a 1.1 to 1.4 percentage points increase in their probability of being employed compared to non-certified counterparts.

SP-certified professionals saw their wage increase peak at 3.8% in the year after certification, with a 1.8 percentage points increase in employment probability in that same year.

Methodology and Rigour

The study employed Coarsened Exact Matching to ensure that certified and non-certified professionals with similar characteristics were matched and compared. It also employed econometric models, including staggered difference-in-differences and probit models, to compare the labour market outcomes of IHRP-certified individuals with a comparable control group.

About IHRP Certification

The IHRP certification programme, introduced in 2017, offers four certification levels designed for HR professionals at various career stages:

• • Certified Associate (CA) – For new HR professionals and career switchers with under three years of working experience
  • Certified Professional (CP) – For HR professionals with at least three years of industry experience
  • Senior Professional (SP) – For experienced HR leaders with over eight years of sector experience, including two years in a strategic HR role
  • Master Professional (MP) – For senior HR leaders recognised by the HR community for their active contributions to the sector

Looking Ahead

The findings underscore IHRP’s mission to elevate HR as a strategic profession whilst demonstrating the tangible value proposition for HR professionals who invest in their professional development through certification.

About IHRP

The Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) is set up by the tripartite partners: the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) to professionalise and strengthen the HR practice in Singapore.

IHRP sets the benchmark standards of excellence for HR and human capital development in organisations. Through a range of national human capital programmes such as the IHRP Certification, Human Capital Diagnostic Tool and IHRP Knowledge Partner Programme and appointed as the Job Design Centre of Excellence, IHRP aims to develop HR as a strategic enabler of business and workforce transformation and foster a vibrant HR services eco-system to drive innovation and change.

For more information, please visit ihrp.sg

Media Contact

Ashley Ng

Manager, Marketing and Partnership Development

Ashley.ng@ihrp.sg