A former brand manager shares her personal experience of sudden retrenchment, while recruitment experts analyze the broader trends driving recent layoffs in Singapore, emphasizing restructuring, global uncertainty, and the critical need for continuous upskilling.
The abrupt end of a 29-year-old former brand manager's career at a multinational company, who wished to be known only as Yuang, came via a surprise early morning calendar invite in May.
She and her colleagues were asked to attend a meeting with their bosses the same morning, with no prior hints despite months of routine work and secret projects. The retrenchment shattered her confidence, especially since the business was actually growing year on year, leading her to speculate that the company was freeing up capital for other headquarters projects. While the severance package provides some relief, recovery remains difficult amid a climate of corporate downsizing.
Yuang had hoped to spend many years at the company due to the salary and her hard work to get there, and now all her plans feel delayed. Her colleagues formed informal networks to support each other and provide job referrals. Recruitment firms noted that the recent wave of retrenchments is not a surprise, reflecting a shift in hiring rather than a broad-based freeze.
Reeracoen Group chief executive Kenji Naito explained that companies have been operating cautiously since 2024 (post-Covid), and the layoffs are likely driven by restructuring, slower expansion, global uncertainty, rising costs, and ongoing AI transformation efforts. He contrasted this with the pandemic period, when layoffs were broader and more immediate; now the focus is on restructuring, productivity, and skills realignment.
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower reported 3,700 retrenchments in the first quarter of 2026, or 1.5 per 1,000 employees, comparable to 3,500 in the previous quarter, with the majority due to business reorganisation or restructuring. JAC Recruitment Singapore managing director Fahad Farook suggested that global instability, such as the conflict in the Middle East, could be a contributing factor.
He emphasized that in the rapidly changing job market, workers must continuously learn new skills and upskill to stay relevant, as the old model of staying in one specialty and climbing the ladder no longer guarantees security. Yuang's experience underscores the emotional toll of unexpected job loss, even in a growing business, and highlights the need for resilience and adaptability.
The trend of corporate restructuring points to broader economic shifts, where companies are optimizing resources amid global uncertainties and technological change. For affected workers, the path forward involves leveraging support networks, pursuing upskilling, and remaining open to new opportunities across different fields. The data shows retrenchments are at a stable level, but the underlying drivers suggest a prolonged period of adjustment in the labor market, where agility and continuous learning are becoming essential for career sustainability
Please follow us on Google to support usRetrenchment Job Loss Career Resilience Corporate Restructuring AI Transformation Upskilling Singapore Jobs Labor Market
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Covid-19 spike in Singapore raises concerns in ThailandPublic health officials in Thailand reassured the public not to panic over the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Singapore as the NB.1.8.1 variant, which is behind much of the concern, is already present in Thailand and has become the dominant strain, according to reports. In Singapore, there was a significant rise in 12,700 Covid-19 cases between May 10 and May 16, a jump from 8,000 cases the previous week. In contrast, Thailand reported 3,642 cumulative Covid-19 cases and one death between January 1 and May 23. Although reported cases have risen over the past month, they remain below the five-year median. Most patients infected in Thailand this year were aged 30 to 35, followed by those aged 60 and above, and people aged 20 to 29. Officials point out that the NB.1.8.1 virus is more transmissible and better at evading immunity, but there is no evidence it causes more severe illness. As a result, the public is advised to follow basic preventive measures such as hand washing, mask-wearing, covering one's mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with those showing respiratory symptoms.
Read more »
Hong Kong school ordered to explain after principal swears on Singapore tripFootage posted on social media showed a man in heated debate with two security guards reportedly during a school trip to Singapore.
Read more »
Singapore Actress Jaime Teo Closes Collab Skincare BrandJaime Teo, a Singapore actress, has announced the closure of her Collab Skincare brand, a move that was made after she feels it is time to close this chapter and focus her energy on new priorities ahead. The decision to close comes a lot of reflection. Jaime Teo launched Collab Skincare in November 2022, and it was routine for her to share skincare tips and tricks on the brand’s page. Jaime Teo is active in Singapore’s pickleball community and was questioned by a netizen if moving onto pickleball would be her next business venture. The closure of Collab Skincare is the latest in a series of business endeavors for Jaime Teo, who has also acted in various local productions and co-founded a food chain in the past.
Read more »
Rain opens up about criticism after wife's emotional episode on You Quiz on the BlockRain, a South Korean singer-actor, talks about the criticism he received after his actress wife Kim Tae-hee cried on the talk show You Quiz on the Block last year. He shares his thoughts on motherhood, his daughters, and his standards of happiness.
Read more »