Re-employment rate of retrenched residents rises to 60.7%

More than two-thirds secured new jobs within a year of retrenchment.

The share of retrenched residents who returned to employment within six months rose to 60.7% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, according to the Ministry of Manpower's Labour Market Report.

The six-month re-entry rate increased for a second consecutive quarter, from 55.4% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 to 57.4% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, and 60.7% in Q1 2026.

Meanwhile, 69.4% of residents retrenched 12 months earlier had secured new employment in Q1 2026, compared with 68.9% in Q4 2025. The 12-month re-entry rate was 74.8% in Q1 2025, the report noted.

The six-month re-entry rate stood at 57.3% for the whole of 2025, down from 58.4% in 2024, and 63.7% in 2023. For the 12-month measure, the annual re-entry rate was 72.1% in 2025, compared with 72.8% in 2024, and 75.3% in 2023.

MOM said re-entry rates are cohort-specific, as the rates for each quarter are based on different groups of retrenched workers.

The ministry also noted that the figures exclude those who entered self-employment, informal employment, or training whilst seeking work.

According to the report, 69.4% of residents retrenched 12 months earlier had secured new employment in Q1 2026, indicating that re-entry prospects improve with time, the ministry said.

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