Singapore backs age-friendly jobs as older worker re-employment tops 63% after retrenchment

Singapore is strengthening its efforts to support older workers through age-friendly job redesign, early intervention for retrenched employees and improved workforce support, even as retrenchments among mid-career professionals remain elevated.

Responding to a series of parliamentary questions, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it does not prescribe specific job redesign requirements for older employees. Instead, it adopts a broad-based approach that encourages employers across all sectors to redesign roles and work processes to better tap the knowledge, experience and capabilities of senior workers.

The response came after questions on whether job redesign policies explicitly promote opportunities for older employees to mentor younger colleagues and share tacit knowledge built over decades of work experience. MOM said its age-friendly employment initiatives already support employers in leveraging these strengths, rather than mandating sector-specific requirements.

The ministry also provided fresh insights into the employment outcomes of older workers affected by retrenchment. During the first quarter of 2026, residents aged 50 to 59 who were retrenched were largely Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs), with most job losses occurring in Wholesale & Retail Trade, Manufacturing, Financial & Insurance Services, and Professional Services.

Despite these retrenchments, re-employment outcomes remained relatively resilient. Among retrenched residents aged 50 to 59, 51.8% had returned to work within six months, rising to 63.2% after 12 months. Of those who secured new jobs, around eight in 10 moved into occupations requiring similar or higher skill levels, while more than half obtained full-time roles with comparable or higher wages.

Looking at longer-term trends, MOM said approximately 4,200 resident PMETs aged 45 to 59 were retrenched in 2025, up from 3,200 in 2024 and 3,500 in 2023. However, the six-month re-employment rate for this group remained relatively stable at 48.5% in 2025, compared with 48.9% in 2024 and 50.1% in 2023.

The ministry also highlighted the role of early intervention in improving employment outcomes. Through the Taskforce for Responsible Retrenchment and Employment Facilitation, all retrenched local employees are proactively contacted and connected with career support.

In 2025, 77% of Mandatory Retrenchment Notifications were submitted at least seven days before employees' final working day, while 73% were submitted at least two weeks in advance. Among employers that notified authorities before employees left, 74% provided employment facilitation through the Taskforce, private outplacement services or both.

The ministry said around two-thirds of workers retrenched between January and July 2025 who received Taskforce assistance before their final day of employment found new jobs within six months, outperforming the median re-employment rate for retrenched residents.

On financial support, MOM said the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme is designed for lower- and middle-income individuals facing involuntary unemployment. Around 20% of retrenched resident PMETs aged 45 to 59 qualified for the scheme in 2023 and 2024, while eligibility data for the 2025 cohort is not yet available.

Separately, the ministry announced it has begun tracking working caregivers who simultaneously care for dependent children and elderly parents. Findings from its inaugural survey conducted in late 2025 show that around one in 10 working caregivers belong to this "sandwich generation". MOM said it is analysing the data and will publish more detailed findings in due course.