Retrenchments rise in Q2 as firms restructure: MOM
The number of retrenchments in Singapore rose to 4,620 in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3,830 in the previous quarter, according to finalised data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).The rise was driven by business reorganisation and restructuring in sectors such as manufacturing, information & communications and financial services, the authority said in its Labour Market Report released Monday (Sept 21).Between the first and second quarters of the year, retrenchment incidence rose the most among resident PMETs.Workers in their 50s recorded the highest incidence of retrenchment, with those in their 40s logging the second highest incidence.MOM said the proportion of retrenched residents who were r-eemployed within six months dipped from 60.7 per cent in the first quarter to 54.9 per cent in the second.However, the twelve-month re-entry rate remained at 69.8 per cent from 69.4 per cent in the previous quarter, meaning workers who had been laid off were taking longer to secure new roles.