1. Total employment increased by 9,400 in 1Q 2026. While this was slower than the increase of 17,700 in 4Q 2025, the moderation was driven mainly by slower non-resident employment growth. At the same time, resident employment growth strengthened from 3,100 in 4Q 2025 to 5,400 to 1Q 2026.
   
   
2. Unemployment remained low and stable in March 2026. The overall, resident and citizen unemployment rates stood at 2.0%, 2.9% and 3.1% respectively, broadly unchanged from preceding quarters in 2025. The resident long-term unemployment rate also remained stable at 0.9%.
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3. Retrenchment incidence remained low at 1.6 retrenched per 1,000 employees and within non-recessionary norms. The number of retrenchments increased slightly from 3,690 in 4Q 2025 to 3,830 in 1Q 2026, as did the number of employees placed on short work-week or temporary layoff, from 960 to 1,230. The increase in retrenchments was concentrated in external-oriented sectors such as Manufacturing, Financial Services and Professional Services.
   
   
4. Despite the slight increase in the number of retrenchments, labour market outcomes remained resilient. The 6-month re-entry rate among retrenched residents rose for the second consecutive quarter, from 57.4% in 4Q 2025 to 60.7% in 1Q 2026. Improvements were observed among PMETs, degree holders and younger residents aged below 30, suggesting that retrenched workers continued to find employment within a reasonable timeframe.
   
   
5. There continued to be more job vacancies than unemployed persons, although labour demand showed signs of easing. Job vacancies declined from 77,700 in December 2025 to 73,300 in March 2026, driven mainly by a decline in non-PMET vacancies. The overall job vacancies to unemployed persons ratio declined from 1.58 in December 2025 to 1.46 in March 2026.
   
   
6. AI adoption is beginning to shape labour market adjustments, but its impact so far appears to be greater on how jobs are performed than on whether jobs continue to exist. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM’s) survey, 28.5% of firms adopted AI in 2026. AI adoption rates varied considerably across sectors and were highest in digitally intensive and knowledge-based sectors such as Information & Communications (74.1%), Professional Services (57.5%) and Financial & Insurance Services (56.4%). However, only a small minority of firms reported AI-related reductions in headcount or hiring (6.2%). Firms were more likely to report adjustments within existing jobs, including the redesign of job functions (18.9%). Taken together, these findings suggest that AI is currently having a greater impact on job redesign and work processes than on broad-based job displacement.​
   
   

​​​​​​For more key findings, please refer to the executive summary​ of the report.​​​