By Anas Abu Hassan
SINGAPORE, July 31 (Bernama) -- Singapore labour market continued to expand in second quarter (2Q) of 2026 with employment growing to 10,700, up from 9,400 in the previous quarter, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth, according to advance data by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
The ministry noted that resident employment continued to grow albeit at a slower pace compared to the previous quarter, mainly in essential and public services.
“Following the slower non-resident employment growth in 1Q 2026, employment growth in 2Q 2026 was driven primarily by non-residents, mainly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing,” it said in a statement on Friday.
According to MOM, unemployment rates remained low and stable in June 2026 at 2.0 per cent overall, while retrenchments increased from 3,830 in 1Q 2026 to 4,500 in 2Q 2026, raising the retrenchment incidence rate from 1.6 to 1.9 per 1,000 employees.
It noted that the increase was concentrated in several outward-oriented sectors, driven primarily by business restructuring.
“Nonetheless, retrenchments remained well below levels typically seen during periods of economic downturn,” it added.
On the outlook, MOM said the improvement in hiring, wage and retrenchment expectations suggested that labour demand remained resilient, even as firms continued to exercise caution amid economic uncertainties and ongoing business restructuring in some sectors.
-- BERNAMA