Singapore employment growth picks up in Q3, but retrenchments continue to rise

Despite total employment growing in Q3, retrenchments in Singapore rose to a nearly six-year high amid economic uncertainty, according to advance labour market data by the Ministry of Manpower.

Office workers in Raffles Place on Sep 21, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)

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SINGAPORE: Total employment grew in the third quarter of 2026, but retrenchments also hit a nearly six-year high, according to advance labour market data released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Oct 30).

Singapore's labour market expanded for a 20th consecutive quarter in Q3, with total employment growing by 27,700 compared with the 11,400 in the preceding quarter and 25,100 during the same period last year.

Resident employment growth continued to be mainly supported by essential and public services, while growth in outward-oriented sectors remained subdued amid global economic uncertainty, MOM said.

Employment growth in the third quarter was led primarily by non-residents, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

The number of retrenchments rose to 4,800 in Q3, up from 4,620 in the previous quarter. This is the highest quarterly figure seen since Q4 2020, when 5,640 workers were retrenched.

The incidence of retrenchment, however, remained at 2 per 1,000 employees in Q3.

Retrenchments were mainly driven by business reorganisation, and remained elevated in selected outward-oriented sectors, MOM said

Meanwhile, resident and citizen unemployment rates edged up slightly in September to 3 per cent and 3.1 per cent, respectively. This is up from 2.9 per cent and 3 per cent in August.

The overall unemployment rate remained low and unchanged at 2 per cent.

The full labour market report for the third quarter will be released in mid-December.

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LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK

Forward-looking indicators were mixed in September, MOM noted.

The share of firms expecting to hire over the next three months rose from 30.5 per cent in August to 42.3 per cent in September, while the share of companies expecting to raise wages increased from 16.9 per cent to 19.9 per cent in the same period.

"However, both remained below July’s levels, suggesting that employers remained cautious about hiring and wage increases amid continued uncertainty," MOM said.

The share of firms expecting to retrench also edged up to 3.1 per cent in September from 2.8 per cent in August.

"This increase, alongside higher actual retrenchments, points to emerging weaknesses in parts of the labour market that warrant close monitoring," the ministry said.

"Against a more uncertain global outlook and rapid technological change, companies will need to keep adapting and investing in their workforce, while workers will need to keep their skills relevant," it added.

Employers can make use of existing schemes, such as the career conversion programmes and Mid-Career Pathways Programme, to reskill and upskill their workers.

Workers are encouraged to take proactive steps to improve their employability and access better job opportunities through schemes such as Career Health SG .

They can also use career coaching and guidance services provided by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, as well as join SkillsFuture training programmes.

Fresh graduates facing difficulties finding employment can utilise the Graduate Industry Traineeships, or GRIT, scheme as an alternative entry point into the workforce that enables them to gain industry-relevant skills and experience, MOM said.

Eligible involuntarily unemployed individuals can receive temporary financial support of up to S$6,000 (US$4,690) over six months via the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme while they are looking for jobs, the ministry added.

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根据新加坡人力部发布的劳动力市场初步数据，尽管第三季度总就业人数有所增长，但由于经济形势不明朗，新加坡的裁员人数却升至近六年来的最高水平。

2026年9月21日，莱佛士坊的上班族。（资料照片：CNA/麦嘉琪）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：人力部（MOM）周五（10月30日）发布的劳动力市场初步数据显示，2026年第三季度总就业人数有所增长，但裁员人数也达到了近六年来的最高水平。

新加坡劳动力市场在第三季度连续第 20 个季度扩张，总就业人数比上一季度增加了 27,700 人，比上一季度增加了 11,400 人，比去年同期增加了 25,100 人。

人力部表示，居民就业增长主要依靠基本服务和公共服务，而受全球经济不确定性影响，对外导向型行业的增长依然低迷。

第三季度的就业增长主要由非居民带动，尤其是在建筑业和制造业。

第三季度裁员人数增至4800人，高于上一季度的4620人。这是自2020年第四季度以来的最高季度裁员数字，当时裁员人数为5640人。

然而，第三季度裁员发生率仍为每 1000 名员工 2 人。

人力部表示，裁员主要是由企业重组驱动的，并且在一些对外导向型行业仍然居高不下。

与此同时，9月份居民失业率和公民失业率分别小幅上升至3%和3.1%，高于8月份的2.9%和3%。

总体失业率保持在较低水平，不变于2%。

第三季度完整的劳动力市场报告将于12月中旬发布。

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劳动力市场前景

人力部指出，9月份的前瞻性指标喜忧参半。

预计未来三个月将招聘员工的企业比例从 8 月份的 30.5% 上升至 9 月份的 42.3%，而预计同期将提高工资的企业比例也从 16.9% 上升至 19.9%。

“然而，这两项指标均低于7月份的水平，表明在持续的不确定性下，雇主对招聘和加薪仍然保持谨慎，”人力部表示。

预计裁员的企业比例从 8 月份的 2.8% 小幅上升至 9 月份的 3.1%。

该部表示：“这一增长，加上实际裁员人数的增加，表明劳动力市场某些部分出现了新的弱点，需要密切关注。”

报告还指出：“面对更加不确定的全球前景和技术的快速变革，企业需要不断调整并投资于员工队伍，而员工也需要不断提升自身技能，使其与时俱进。”

雇主可以利用现有的计划，例如职业转换计划和中期职业发展计划，来重新培训和提升员工的技能。

鼓励劳动者采取积极措施，通过“职业健康新加坡”等计划提高自身就业能力并获得更好的就业机会。

他们还可以使用技能与劳动力发展局和全国职工总会就业与技能提升学院提供的职业辅导和指导服务，以及参加技能创前程培训计划。

人力部表示，面临就业困难的应届毕业生可以利用毕业生行业实习计划（GRIT）作为进入职场的替代途径，从而获得与行业相关的技能和经验。

该部补充说，符合条件的非自愿失业人员可以通过“技能创前程求职者支持计划”在六个月内获得最高 6000 新元（4690 美元）的临时财政支持，以便他们寻找工作。

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