Singapore manpower
When change is the constant: Policies and politics to watch in 2026, at home and abroad
From Cabinet confirmations to potential confrontations, much lies ahead in the new year
More contract hiring, higher foreign labour costs: The trends shaping Singapore’s manpower landscape in 2026
Gloomier hiring sentiment persists despite economy ending year on better-than-expected note
SNEF calls for more foreign-manpower flexibility, cost relief in Budget 2026 wish list
This comes as around three in four employers expect uncertainty next year, which could weigh on hiring and wage growth
Singapore MBAs draw stronger interest amid global visa tightening and career shifts
HR firms say such degrees are most valuable for those in senior leadership roles, even as more mid-career professionals explore them to future-proof their careers
Retrenchments rise slightly in Q3 amid restructuring, but hiring remains firm
The layoffs are concentrated in growth sectors such as financial services, professional services and information and communications
Singapore hiring outlook worsens sharply to 4-year low: ManpowerGroup survey
Local employment outlook is well below the global average; finance sector bucks trend with most improved net employment outlook
More employers plan to freeze hiring, moderate wages as business sentiment dips: SNEF poll
Rising manpower costs remain most-cited manpower challenge
Singapore’s real income growth improves to 4.3% amid low inflation
This was despite a slowdown in nominal wage growth
Short-term contracts form smaller share of jobs, with permanent roles at record high: MOM
The report finds ‘no sustained shift’ towards short-term roles for youth
China, US and Malaysia are top overseas postings for Singapore workers: MOM
Only 3.1 per cent of the resident labour force has ever worked overseas full-time for at least six months
