Large firms identify manpower as top unaddressed Budget 2026 issue

Survey shows manpower, costs, and support gaps are key post-Budget 2026 challenges.

Manpower-related challenges are the top unaddressed issue for both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large companies under the 2026 fiscal policy, with 29% of SMEs and 48% of large firms identifying it as their main concern.

These findings come from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF)-IndSights Business Dipstick report, a joint study by SBF and IndSights Research, which gathered feedback on the Singapore Budget 2026 announced on 13 February.

The chart shows that amongst SMEs, this is followed by general business costs at 21%, lack of SME support at 12%, and lack of specialised support at 11%.

Rental-related challenges were the least worrisome to SMEs at 6%, whilst 17% cited other issues.

Amongst large companies, general business costs and lack of specialised support were both cited by 17%, followed by rental-related challenges at 13% and lack of SME support at 4%. Like SMEs, a further 17% reported other concerns.

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