Singapore Labour Market Shows Strain as Retrenchments Rise and Job Vacancies Fall

Singapore, 15 June 2026 – Singapore’s labour market showed signs of softening in the first quarter of 2026 as retrenchments rose and job vacancies declined, even as overall employment continued to expand for the 18th consecutive quarter.

Finalised data from the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market Report showed that job vacancies fell to 73,300 in March from 77,700 in December 2025. The figure was also lower than the 80,100 vacancies recorded in March 2025, suggesting that employers are becoming more cautious in hiring amid economic uncertainty and business restructuring.