Straitstimes.com header logo

Firms and HR professionals support Budget 2026’s push for strong Singaporean core in workforce

More flexibility would be good as firms cite transition risks and cost pressures.

Industry players say Budget 2026 measures reinforce the Government’s focus on quality over quantity when it comes to workforce planning.

Singapore investors lead return of Asian capital to Australian real estate

image-alt

Singapore second-most searched destination for Chinese travellers during Chinese New Year

image-alt

S’porean professor beats Chinese New Year travel rush to return from China for reunion dinner

image-alt

News analysis

Nihilistic violence adds to South-east Asia’s youth radicalisation concerns

image-alt

‘No one is above the law’: Malaysian King warns graft offenders in government agencies

Australian museum recovers Egyptian artefacts after break-in

Move over, Dubai-style chewy cookies: ‘Frozen jelly’ set to be South Korea’s next dessert craze

Trending

Chinese New Year

Lawrence Wong

AI/artificial intelligence

Singapore courts

World Cup

Shorts
British man arrested for damaging check-in kiosks at Hong Kong airport

0:23

Baby monkey in Japan zoo finds comfort in plushie after being abandoned by mum

0:36

'Let us face the year ahead with adaptability and confidence': PM Wong's CNY message

1:34

17-year-old boy killed, 2 others injured in stabbing at Osaka’s Dotonbori area

0:39

Harbin Polarland penguins march out in festive suits to welcome Chinese New Year

0:22

Ramadan bazaar kicks off in Geylang Serai with Hari Raya light-up

0:22

Cantonment Close residents transform void deck for Chinese New Year

0:29

Dogs bring Valentine’s Day cheer to children’s hospital

0:45

Brawl and chaos force Jet2 flight from Turkey to Britain to divert

0:46

Singapore

Singapore’s harmony must be actively renewed, says PM Wong in Chinese New Year message

The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims is expected to start on Feb 19, the third day of Chinese New Year.

The upcoming Chinese New Year is especially meaningful as it coincides with the start of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Singapore investors lead return of Asian capital to Australian real estate

MUIS removes compounded fidyah payment and updates rate to $4 a day; zakat fitrah set at $5 or $8

Man dies after car skids at Bukit Batok HDB block

Asia
image-alt

Nihilistic violence adds to South-east Asia’s youth radicalisation concerns

image-alt

Actress’ LinkedIn stunt strikes a nerve among young Indonesian job seekers

image-alt

Anwar holds all the cards in $3.5b takeover battle that is testing Malay economic clout

image-alt

Prabowo says Indonesia may need an authoritarian touch to fight corruption

Opinion

Death in the Philippines, under a mountain of filth

Mara Cepeda

avatar-alt

New flight plan for CPF savings: Long overdue, but may not suit everyone

Christopher Gee

Will an endowment of $300,000 per child move the needle?

Kalpana Vignehsa

Trump’s Board of Peace : Should we take it literally or seriously?

Simon Chesterman

avatar-alt
Visual stories

The Week in Pictures: Beauty in motion at the Winter Olympics; football matches in snow and rubble

image-alt

Budget 2026 calculator: Check your benefits and estimated tax

image-alt

Singapore Budget 2026: A step to secure the future

image-alt

Sumiko at 62: Four simple exercises to improve balance

image-alt

The Week in Pictures: Winter Olympics action, Thailand and Japan go to the polls

image-alt

Sweat, mud, and tears: How Basic Military Training turns boys into men

image-alt

Made in the US, sourced globally: Why American firms aren’t spared the impact of Trump’s tariffs

image-alt

The BMT Journey: Inside Basic Military Training Centre’s School 2

image-alt

Coming to a road near you: How Singapore’s traffic signs are being upgraded

image-alt

Who goes missing in Singapore?

image-alt
Podcasts
image-alt

The Usual Place Podcast

Will becoming an AI-forward society lead to more inequality?
image-alt

Headstart On Record Podcast

Headstart podcast recap: Making better sense of investment in 2026 and yes, gold too
image-alt

In Your Opinion Podcast

Temporary or permanent relief? The future of CDC vouchers
image-alt

ST Podcasts

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

Young & Savvy

Career road bumps can hurt, but I learnt that no experiences are wasted

The new skills picked up in a job taught the writer a lot about stepping out of her comfort zone.

The new skills picked up in a job taught the writer a lot about stepping out of her comfort zone, and about resilience and adaptability.

Meet the young people in Singapore ‘stacking’ overseas internships to get ahead

‘Thanks, I made it myself’: How these handy Singaporeans DIY-ed renovation works for their spaces

Me and My Money: AXS boss’ meals from hawkers come with a side dish of lessons on payment challenges

Video: Can Singapore really be friends with everyone?

askST Jobs: I feel overqualified at work. Should I move to a new role?

Employees can expand their existing role by taking on more complex problems, leading initiatives beyond one’s formal remit, or building skills that the organisation will need next.

‘Like scrapbooking, but on a bag’: Why Singapore girls are spending big on ita-bags

Polytechnic students Phoebe Ang (right), 18, polytechnic student, and Aryaan Yew, 22, with their Ita-bags on Feb 1, 2025.

Headstart On Record Podcast

Investing in stocks or stuff?

Is it better to buy stocks or invest in tangible things?
Most popular

1

‘As if the world is breaking’: Tampines residents woken up by traffic noise in the wee hours

2

Bangladesh freezes bank accounts of S’porean tycoon amid probes; businessman denies allegations

3

Fire breaks out at bak kwa shop 2 days before Chinese New Year

4

Student care operator Little Professors under probe by authorities over unpaid salaries of 54 staff

5

503 new TB cases reported in Malaysia

6

Migrating from Malaysia: The Singapore I chose has changed

7

How one Sarawak farm became S’pore’s sole live pig supplier after 18-year trade ban

8

4 taken to hospital after car overturns in River Valley

9

China starts 9-day Chinese New Year holidays with travellers shunning Japan amid bilateral spat

10

‘I cannot blame him’: Daughter who stepped up to care for family when her father went to prison

Branded content
Grain-fed pigs, modern tech: Where to get ‘sweeter’, more tender pork for your CNY feast
FairPrice Group brings in fresh Malaysia pork via its subsidiary OJJ, with live pigs arriving by boat before being butchered and packed locally for optimal quality.
Why this S'porean lawyer spends her evenings mastering intricate footwork
How one entrepreneur scaled her business – and the platform that helped her get there
Using global payments platform Airwallex for its finance operations has made it much easier for Motherswork to scale the business abroad, says founder and chief executive officer Sharon Wong.
Different roots, one home: Their stories of living in multicultural S'pore
‘I don't want my children to argue about my care’: Why this mother created an LPA
With her husband's Lasting Power of Attorney in place, Mrs Toh Boon Keng was able to make swift medical and financial decisions when he lost mental capacity.
How working adults are future-proofing their careers without disruption
IAL's CPD courses provide accessible learning opportunities for working professionals looking to build new skills alongside their daily commitments.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

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.