Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported that 41.9% of resident workers aged 50 to 59 retrenched in late 2025 were recorded in employment six months later, while both jobs and layoffs rose.
The 41.9% rate applies to people retrenched in the fourth quarter of 2025. The 51.8% rate reported for the previous quarter covers a separate group, retrenched in the third quarter; the figures do not track the same workers over time. MOM defines residents as citizens and permanent residents. Its measure covers public-sector employers and private-sector companies with at least 25 employees, but its administrative records do not capture people who enter self-employment or informal work, or those in training while seeking a job.
Three people interviewed by CNA described different paths after losing work. Francis Lee, 59, set up a consultancy after his director role ended in February 2025, but was still seeking his first paying client when CNA reported his case. “Nobody will call you. Nobody will message you,” he said. CNA reported that a referral helped Rahmat Mohamad, 53, return to logistics in March after more than a year away from work, at a lower salary. Doris Lim, 61, moved from garment merchandising to biomedical manufacturing through a career conversion program and took a 10% to 20% pay cut. These are individual accounts, not a measure of outcomes for all retrenched workers.
Singapore’s total employment grew by 11,400 in the second quarter of 2026, while retrenchments climbed to 4,620 from 3,830 in the first quarter. Residents aged 50 to 59 had the highest retrenchment incidence among age groups, at 3.6 per 1,000 resident employees. The six-month re-entry rate for all retrenched residents also declined, to 54.9% from 60.7%.
MOM attributed 72.1% of second-quarter retrenchments to business reorganization or restructuring. The ministry said it has not isolated AI’s role in retrenchments because its effects are difficult to distinguish from broader business changes and restructuring. In a separate measure, MOM reported that almost nine in 10 mature participants continued to have jobs 12 months after finishing a Career Conversion Programme.
The Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment is reviewing support for older workers. MOM said it expects the group’s recommendations later in 2026, without giving a specific release date.
