FoundificSG
SGMY

Singapore retrenchments rise to 4,620 in Q2 2026, highest since 2020

Manufacturing, tech and finance made up most of the rise, and fewer retrenched residents found work within six months, MOM data show.

NewsPublished 20 October 20262 min read

Singapore employers retrenched 4,620 workers in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3,830 in the first quarter, according to the Ministry of Manpower's Labour Market Report released on 21 September. It is the most in a quarter since Q4 2020.

4,620Retrenched, Q2 2026Most since Q4 2020
2.0Retrenched per 1,000 employeesUp from 1.6 in Q1 2026
54.9%Back in work within 6 monthsDown from 60.7%
Source: MOM, Labour Market Report Q2 2026, released 21 September 2026.
In short
  • Manufacturing, tech and finance account for 540 of the 790 extra retrenchments.
  • Professionals and degree holders have the highest retrenchment rates.
  • 54.9% found a new job within six months, down from 60.7%.
Retrenchments rose for a second quarter, to 4,620
02k4k6k8kQ1 '233,820Q2 '23Q3 '23Q4 '23Q1 '24Q2 '24Q3 '24Q4 '24Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26Q2 '264,620
Retrenched employees per quarter, Q1 2023 to Q2 2026, rounded to the nearest 10. Source: MOM, Labour Market Report Q2 2026; data.gov.sg.

Three industries, most of the rise

IndustryQ1 2026Q2 2026Change
Manufacturing670870+200
Information and communications530720+190
Financial services560710+150

MOM groups all three as outward-oriented sectors. Business reorganisation or restructuring was the main reason employers gave, in 72.1% of cases.

Who is most exposed

Retrenched workers per 1,000 resident employees, Q2 2026:

  • PMETs: 3.2, up from 2.6, the highest of any occupation group.
  • Degree holders: 3.1, unchanged, the highest of any education level.
  • Residents in their 50s: 3.6, up from 3.1, the highest of any age group.
  • Under 30: 1.0, the lowest.

Finding work again takes longer

  • Within six months: 54.9% of residents retrenched in Q2 2026, down 5.8 percentage points.
  • Within twelve months: 69.8% for earlier cohorts, against 69.4% the quarter before.
  • By job, within a year: 76.9% of production and transport workers, against 69.2% of PMETs.

How this year compares

In the first half of 2026, 8,450 workers were retrenched, 1,320 more than in the first half of 2025. The whole of 2025 had 14,490, or 6.3 per 1,000 employees. In 2020, during COVID-19, 26,110 were retrenched.

Data notes

  • Revised figure: MOM's advance release on 31 July estimated about 4,500. The full report revised it to 4,620.
  • Coverage: private firms with at least 25 employees, and the public sector. Counts are rounded to the nearest 10.
  • Quarters: MOM writes the quarter as "2Q 2026"; Foundific writes "Q2 2026".

Next release

MOM's advance release for the third quarter is due on 29 to 30 October 2026. The retrenchments page has the full series and will be updated with it.

SingaporeRetrenchments in SingaporeThe full series, by year and by group SingaporeUnemployment rate in SingaporeMOM monthly rates since 1992 SingaporeNotice period calculatorYour last day under the Employment Act

Sources

MOM Labour Market Report, Second Quarter 2026
  1. MOM, Labour Market Report, Second Quarter 2026 Released 21 September 2026, pages 11 to 13.
  2. data.gov.sg, Number of Retrenched Employees, Quarterly