Greater than a 3rd of staff additionally work from the workplace 5 days every week, double the worldwide common
Almost half of workers in Singapore anticipate their jobs to be affected by restructuring, automation or cost-cutting measures in 2026, in accordance with Morgan McKinley’s newest 2026 Office Tendencies Report.
At 49%, the determine is considerably larger than the worldwide common of 37%.
The discovering comes amid rising uncertainty in Singapore’s labour market.
Whereas total employment has continued to develop, bigger employers have turn into more and more cautious about hiring, with extra planning to scale back headcount this yr. Current Ministry of Manpower knowledge additionally confirmed retrenchments climbed to their highest quarterly degree since 2023, whereas job vacancies declined.
How are workers responding?
Whereas Morgan McKinley didn’t present Singapore-specific figures for a way workers are responding to job insecurity, the worldwide findings recommend many staff are already taking steps to future-proof their careers.
Amongst workers who concern shedding their jobs, 85% mentioned they’d begin in search of a brand new function, whereas 64% mentioned they’d put money into new abilities or extra {qualifications}.
The findings recommend that staff more and more view upskilling and profession mobility as methods to remain aggressive amid financial uncertainty and speedy technological change.
Singapore is without doubt one of the world’s most office-based workforces
Alongside considerations over job safety, workers in Singapore are additionally spending significantly extra time in bodily workplaces.
The report discovered that 37% of workers in Singapore work from the workplace 5 days every week, greater than double the worldwide common of 17%. Among the many markets surveyed, solely Hong Kong recorded a better proportion at 60%, making Singapore one of many world’s most office-centric employment markets.
Nonetheless, this doesn’t essentially replicate what workers need.
Globally, solely 9% of respondents mentioned they’d select to work from the workplace 5 days every week if given the choice, with most preferring hybrid preparations as a substitute.
The findings spotlight an ongoing disconnect between worker preferences and office insurance policies in lots of markets.
What lies forward for Singapore’s job market?
Morgan McKinley’s findings are based mostly on responses from 2,799 workers and 214 employers throughout the taking part markets, collected by an internet survey in late 2025.
Whereas Singapore’s labour market continued to increase within the first quarter of 2026—with complete employment rising by 9,400, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of development because the fourth quarter of 2021—the survey means that staff stay involved about what lies forward.
Learn different articles we’ve written on Singapore’s job panorama right here.
Featured Picture Credit score: Ministry of Manpower






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