Despite rising trust, concerns over job security and misinformation persist
The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer has revealed that the Singaporean government remains the most trusted institution in the country, with trust levels rising slightly to 77%. This puts it ahead of non-governmental organizations (66%), businesses (63%), and the media (60%).
Despite the increase in institutional trust, concerns about job security remain high, with 93% of employed respondents in Singapore fearing job loss. Additionally, worries about cybersecurity threats have increased by seven percentage points to 80%, while concern over climate change has risen to 75%.
Globally, government institutions face declining trust, with only 51% of respondents expressing confidence in their leadership. Business is the only institution that remains trusted worldwide (63%). In contrast, Singapore’s high trust levels reflect confidence in governance and stability.
Innovation has emerged as a critical factor influencing trust. In Singapore, 28% of respondents believe that innovation is poorly managed, a sentiment echoed across income levels, genders, and age groups. Globally, 73% of respondents feel that technology is advancing too rapidly. However, government institutions are still viewed as the most capable of ensuring that technological advancements are safe and beneficial to society.
The survey also highlights growing skepticism about societal leaders, with 46% of Singaporeans believing that government leaders may be misleading them, while 55% express similar concerns about business leaders and journalists. This trend is reflected globally, with distrust in government leaders reported in 22 of 28 countries.
Singapore remains one of the most trusting nations, ranking eighth globally with a trust index of 67. Other Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia (73), Thailand (70), and Malaysia (68), also feature in the top ten.
Despite concerns over misinformation, trust in traditional media in Singapore has risen by three percentage points to 67%, reflecting a reliance on established news sources for credible information.
