Nearly 50% of Singapore employees fear job loss as AI & cost-cutting concerns grow: Report

More than a third of workers also work from the office five days a week, double the global average

Nearly half of employees in Singapore expect their jobs to be affected by restructuring, automation or cost-cutting measures in 2026, according to Morgan McKinley’s latest 2026 Workplace Trends Report.

At 49%, the figure is significantly higher than the global average of 37%.

The finding comes amid growing uncertainty in Singapore’s labour market.

While overall employment has continued to grow, larger employers have become increasingly cautious about hiring, with more planning to reduce headcount this year. Recent Ministry of Manpower data also showed retrenchments climbed to their highest quarterly level since 2023, while job vacancies declined.

How are employees responding?

While Morgan McKinley did not provide Singapore-specific figures for how employees are responding to job insecurity, the global findings suggest many workers are already taking steps to future-proof their careers.

Among employees who fear losing their jobs, 85% said they would start looking for a new role, while 64% said they would invest in new skills or additional qualifications.

The findings suggest that workers increasingly view upskilling and career mobility as ways to stay competitive amid economic uncertainty and rapid technological change.

Singapore is one of the world’s most office-based workforces

Alongside concerns over job security, employees in Singapore are also spending considerably more time in physical workplaces.

The report found that 37% of employees in Singapore work from the office five days a week, more than double the global average of 17%. Among the markets surveyed, only Hong Kong recorded a higher proportion at 60%, making Singapore one of the world’s most office-centric employment markets.

However, this doesn’t necessarily reflect what employees want.

Globally, only 9% of respondents said they would choose to work from the office five days a week if given the option, with most preferring hybrid arrangements instead.

The findings highlight an ongoing disconnect between employee preferences and workplace policies in many markets.

What lies ahead for Singapore’s job market?

Morgan McKinley’s findings are based on responses from 2,799 employees and 214 employers across the participating markets, collected through an online survey in late 2025.

While Singapore’s labour market continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026—with total employment rising by 9,400, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of growth since the fourth quarter of 2021—the survey suggests that workers remain concerned about what lies ahead.

Featured Image Credit: Ministry of Manpower