According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, the city-state's retrenchments in Q1 2026 (January to March) reached 3,830 people, the highest level in nearly three years. This marked an increase from 3,690 retrenchments in the previous quarter and the highest since Q3 2023, when 4,110 employees were retrenched.
Corporate restructuring and business adjustments remained the primary driver of layoffs. Multiple sectors including manufacturing, financial and insurance services, and professional services all saw increased retrenchment numbers.