Oral Answer to PQ on Hiring demand amid rising retrenchments

NOTICE PAPER NO. 694 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 8 APRIL 2026
QUESTION NO. 1921 FOR ORAL ANSWER

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye:

To ask the Minister for Manpower in view of strong hiring demand for engineers and technology specialists alongside rising retrenchments among Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) reported in the annual job vacancies report, what are the key factors driving this mismatch in the labour market.

Answer:

Mismatches in the labour market may be driven by shifts in skill requirements. For example, firms are expanding technology functions, driving sustained demand for jobs like AI engineers and engineering professionals, while restructuring other PMET roles that have become easier to automate. Retrenched PMETs may lack the specific technical skills and experience to fulfil the requirements for in-demand engineer and technology specialist jobs.