5 key takeaways about Singapore’s job market in the second quarter of 2026 — Employment, Retrenchment, and more
Employment growth, unemployment trends, and cautious labour market sentiment are key topics in the Labour Market Report 2Q 2026.
The Labour Market Report for the second quarter of 2026 was released by the Ministry of Manpower’s Manpower Research and Statistics Department (MRSD) on 21 September 2026, affording an in-depth look at how our labour landscape is changing.
In brief, here are 5 key statistics that shed light on workforce trends for the second quarter of 2026.
1. Employment growth was driven by non-residents in Construction and Manufacturing.
This quarter, total employment expanded by 11,400, suggesting steady employment growth following the increase of 9,400 in 1Q 2026.
This expansion was driven by non-resident employment growth in the Construction and Maufacturing industry which rose from 4,100 in 1Q 2026 to 9,200 in 2Q 2026.
Resident employment growth continued to grow, although the increase moderated from 5,400 to 2,200.
2. Unemployment rates remained low and stable in June 2026.
Unemployment rates remained low and broadly stable in June 2026 at 1.9% overall, 2.9% for residents and 3.0% for citizens, compared to 2.0% overall, 2.9% for residents and 3.1% for citizens in March 2026.
3. Recent business restructuring efforts are concentrated in sectors with higher reliance on higher-skilled professionals.
72.1% of establishments cited business reorganisationor restructuring as the main reason for retrenchment with concentration in sectors like Manufacturing, Information & Communications, and Financial Services, reflecting continued restructuring pressures among these outward-oriented industries.
4. Resignation rates maintain at a historic low for Singapore.
Since 2026’s first quarter, local resignation rates have dipped to a historic low of 1.0%.
This quarter, voluntary labour turnover remained subdued with the resignation rates remaining low and unchanged at 1.0%.
5. While hiring expectations are optimistic, the job market continues to adopt a vigilant stance.
Near-term hiring expectations improved across more establishments, with the proportion of firms intending to hire in the next three months rising from 43.9% in June to 48.7% in July 2026. However, both hiring and wage expectations remained below their February 2026 levels.
For further clarity, do consult the Labour Market Report 2Q 2026 here.
