Singapore Retrenchments Rise Sharply in Q2 Amid Falling Vacancies and Fewer Laid-Off Workers Finding Jobs
MOM said retrenchments rose to 4,620, while job vacancies fell to 68,600 and only 54.9% of retrenched residents found work within six months.
- On Monday, the Ministry of Manpower reported 4,620 retrenchments in Singapore's second quarter of 2026, the highest level since late 2020, driven by business reorganization in manufacturing, financial services, and information and communications sectors.
- Business reorganization and restructuring drove the spike, pushing retrenchment incidence to 2.0 per 1,000 employees, up from 1.6 in the previous quarter, according to the MOM Labour Market Report.
- Job vacancies fell to 68,600 in June from 73,300 in March, though entry-level vacancies for professionals, managers, executives and technicians remained "broadly stable and sizeable," accounting for 45.3 per cent of all openings.
- Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau noted "signs of change" during a visit to cybersecurity firm Acronis on Monday, acknowledging that job transitions are taking longer for some Singaporeans.
- Business expectation polls indicate a "positive but cautious" outlook, with hiring intentions rising to 48.7 per cent in July, though wage-raising intentions fell to 27.9 per cent from 29.3 per cent in June.
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12 Articles
Singapore Retrenchments Jump to 4,620 in Q2, Highest Since 2020 as Job Vacancies Fall
Singapore recorded 4,620 retrenchments from April to June 2026, while the number of job vacancies dropped to 68,600. The labour market is still expanding, but MOM says several indicators are showing signs of softening.
Retrenchments rise in Q2 as firms restructure: MOM
The number of retrenchments in Singapore rose to 4,620 in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3,830 in the previous quarter, according to finalised data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).The rise was driven by business reorganisation and restructuring in sectors such as manufacturing, information & communications and financial services, the authority said in its Labour Market Report released Monday (Sept 21).Between the first and second quarte…
Channel News Asia
PressNewsAgencySingapore retrenchments rise sharply in Q2 amid falling vacancies and fewer laid-off workers finding jobs
Some workers are finding the transition into their next role taking slightly longer, said Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau.
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