Let's preserve human connection in the workplace

Singapore's SG60 celebrations offered a moment to reflect: In the country's growth from a small port city to a powerhouse economy, our workplaces have been essential to the national story.

- Adren Sim Whee Liang

We've evolved from kampung-era enterprises built on personal trust to high-tech global businesses. Even now, workplaces remain at the heart of our success.

Yet the employment landscape continues to change rapidly. Singapore's total employment grew by 44,500 in 2024, a slower pace than the 78,800 surge seen in 2023, reflecting shifts in market cycles and industrial needs.

Despite this, unemployment remained low—just 2 per cent overall—demonstrating ongoing economic resilience. While overall layoffs fell in 2024, heightened activity in some sectors shows that contract hiring, redeployment and episodic redundancies are now part of the new normal.