Straitstimes.com header logo

More retrenchments in Singapore in Q1 of 2026 as job vacancies drop

Business reorganisation or restructuring, rather than cost-cutting, remained the main reason for retrenchment.

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s finalised data in its Labour Market Report, the number of job vacancies fell from 77,700 in December 2025 to 73,300 in March 2026.

News analysis

Trump clinches interim deal to end war - but it may benefit Iran much more

image-alt

Live: US, Iran announce deal to end war

image-alt

Oil falls over 4% as US-Iran peace deal paves way for reopening of Hormuz

image-alt

‘Keep what works, change what does not’: PM Wong on Singapore’s approach to navigating challenges

image-alt

Japan battle back to draw 2-2 with Netherlands in World Cup thriller

No transaction fees and third-party apps: S’pore travellers cheer expanded payment options in China

‘Where do we go now?’: Malaysia’s under-16 social media ban leaves teens detached and displaced

Trending

World Cup 2026

Iran

Japan

Malaysia

E-banking

World Cup news
image-alt

Japan battle back to draw 2-2 with Netherlands in World Cup thriller

image-alt

Germany hammer World Cup debutants Curacao 7-1 after early scare

image-alt

A World Cup buzz for a fraction of the cost with a side of history? Sold

image-alt

FIFA World Cup 2026: Goal of the day game

Shorts
Bus set on fire as Knicks win sparks chaotic celebrations in New York

0:25

Fans celebrate after New York Knicks win first NBA championship since 1973

0:34

World Cup fans cheer Boston police officer’s football skills

0:22

Pursuit of Jade's star Zhang Linghe attended an event in Nanjing, accompanied by dozens of security guards.

0:27

Purr-fect Timing, Cat Crashes Ballet!

0:38

From Pitch to Pavement: David Beckham honoured with Walk of Fame star as LA Hosts World Cup Matches

1:13

i-dle songs This or That feat. MINNIE

1:35

NDP 2026: Q&A with the artistes behind Sparkle

1:26

200 South Korea football fans gather at Lau Pa Sat to watch World Cup opener

0:23

Singapore

Singapore’s planting palette: What trees colour our streets and parks?

Tree species are selected for different purposes, such as providing shade and supporting biodiversity.

Clockwise from top-left: Common Sterculia's flowers, Sea Gutta, Katong Laut, and Lagerstroemia Genus's flowers

From the zoo to the mountains: A Singaporean’s quest to rescue bears in Laos

NUS researchers develop battery-free skin patch prototype for continuous blood pressure monitoring

askST Jobs: Will AI make it harder for young workers to learn on the job?

Asia
image-alt

‘Where do we go now?’: Malaysia’s under-16 social media ban leaves teens detached and displaced

image-alt

Xi swops fighter jets for diplomatic hardball to squeeze Taiwan

image-alt

Inside China’s traffic-driven self-media commentary industry that turns clicks into yuan

image-alt

New Malaysian party Bersama can be ‘self-sustainable’ in current landscape, Rafizi says

Opinion

Shangri-La Dialogue: False dichotomies, real consequences

Chan Chun Sing

The Singaporean workers who feel AI has nothing to do with them

Irene Y.H. Ng, Tan Zhi Han, V Deepa and Aaron Lim

The ​business of ​female ​desire in China

Yew Lun Tian

avatar-alt

Why do employers think it’s okay to ghost job applicants?

Robert Shrimsley

Visual stories

The Week in Pictures: Earthquake in Philippines; New York Knicks win NBA Finals

image-alt

FIFA World Cup 2026: Goal of the day game

image-alt

FIFA World Cup 2026: Track every match result and schedule

image-alt

Who is your football twin? A closer look at the physical makeup of a World Cup squad

image-alt

The Week in Pictures: Yadnya Kasada festival in Indonesia; blue moon over Russia

image-alt

i Light Singapore 2026: Illuminating the city

image-alt

What’s The News? Students compete in ST’s current affairs quiz

image-alt

Seniors caring for seniors: What caregiving looks like in a super-aged society

image-alt

Quiz: What’s the news?

image-alt

Sea lanes are being disrupted. And an old Chinese frontier town is back in the spotlight

image-alt
Podcasts
image-alt

Headstart On Record Podcast

Award-winning Singapore clown Shanice Stanislaus on why we need to embrace failure
image-alt

Asian Insider Podcast

Why Beijing now sets the agenda for US-China ties
image-alt
ST World Cup Team Talk podcast: Football fans on Messi, Mbappe and fairy tales
image-alt

ST Podcasts

Discover The Straits Times’ award-winning podcasts
navigation-bar-logo
Headstart
Latest
Money Mentor
Work Bestie
Life Guide
About Headstart

askST Jobs: Am I being ‘difficult’ if I speak up at work?

Speaking up at work matters, but how concerns are raised can shape career outcomes.

Singapore companies dialling back hiring, but willing to pay higher wages for AI, soft skills

Custom funerals, memorial keepsakes: How Singapore pet owners cope with pet deaths

Young Singaporeans build internship, entry-level job trackers to close opportunity gap

Upcoming renaissance fair reimagines Singapore’s history with a blend of local folklore and fantasy

Themed “A Symphony of Land and Sea”, Lion City Faire reimagines Singapore’s past as a port settlement through performances, activities and workshops that blend local folklore and fairytales.

Me & My Money: For this entrepreneur, growing wealth beats saving up

Daniel Charles' career spanned various industries, including the tech world and organising Formula One racing experiences for clients.

Is the search for perfection delaying marriage in Singapore?

The issue is not that young Singaporeans no longer value marriage. It is that marriage is increasingly seen as something to enter only when one feels fully ready.

Headstart On Record Podcast

Will the AI bubble burst? We break down if tech is still worth investing in

Most popular

1

Singapore’s revised driving licence requirements extended to all EVs up to 3,000kg from June 15

2

Investors looking for former SEA Games ice hockey player over $9m loan

3

LTA warns against practice of keeping seat belts slack with clips and other devices

4

Pasir Ris-Changi residents to get discounted food, services under new programme

5

Woman fails in claim for income from grandfather’s Islamic charitable trusts for mosque

6

No transaction fees and third-party apps: S’pore travellers cheer expanded payment options in China

7

The proof is in the poo: S’pore study links gut health to fatty liver disease

8

Resale condos staying on market longer as buyers take their time, sellers hold firm on prices

9

Police looking for driver of car that skidded onto pavement in Sengkang

10

Veteran Mandopop singer David Huang dies at age 61

Branded content
Workouts with Amotti, K-pop stars live on stage: How cruise ship is reinventing holidays at sea
Genting Dream marks its 10th anniversary with new onboard experiences, including  fitness workshops led by Physical: 100’s Amotti, performances by KIIRAS, and curated menus by chef Tommie Lee, better known as French Papa.
Vineyard lunches, golden beaches: Why this Australian road trip is worth the drive
Charmaine Chan at Surfers Paradise Beach in the Gold Coast and Cupitt's Estate in New South Wales.
Outback adventures, waterfall swims: Your wildest escape is closer than you think
From cultural tours and wildlife encounters to dramatic outback landscapes, the Northern Territory offers experiences that range from adventurous to deeply immersive.
From mangrove walks to food tours: Fun June holiday activities with a green twist
Explore Singapore’s greener side through a wide range of exciting activities during Go Green SG 2026.
Impact-driven and profitable: S'pore SMEs show how it can be done
lockwise from top left) rithika gupta from ollie, arvin tang from akin by techlyon, melissa laurie from oysterly media, and justin zhang from tack one—four entrepreneurs using business and technology to improve lives across various sectors
Building APAC's AI future: Helping developers turn bold ideas into real-world apps
Home-grown technology company Sea is partnering OpenAI in their first regional hackathon to spur innovation in frontier AI tooling.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Personal Data Protection Notice

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

Download the app

Get unlimited access to exclusive stories and incisive insights from the ST newsroom
Subscribe Placeholder
MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.