Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 2.0% in Q3 2026, from 1.9% in the previous quarter, which was the lowest since Q4 2024, preliminary data showed. Total employment increased by 27,700 in Q3, compared with 11,400 in the previous quarter and 25,100 in the same period last year. Employment growth was led by non-residents, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Layoffs rose to 4,800 in Q3, the highest since Q4 2020, up from 4,620 in Q2. The increase was led by outward-oriented sectors, while business reorganisation continued to be the main driver of retrenchments. However, the retrenchment rate remained at 2.0 per 1,000. Looking ahead, more firms plan to hire, while wage-growth intentions have accelerated, although both remain below July levels, suggesting that employers remain cautious about hiring and wage increases amid continued uncertainty