Breakdown of Retrenched PMET Re-employment Outcomes by Industry and Wage Difference, and Enhancing Jobseeker Support Scheme
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the re-employment outcomes of retrenched professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) and potential enhancements to the Jobseeker Support Scheme, raised by Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau shared that from 2023 to 2025, 67.4% of re-employed retrenched resident PMETs changed industries, with 60.2% of them earning lower wages. Retrenched PMETs who stayed in the same industry or came from domestic-oriented sectors were less prone to wage decline, whereas those from outward-oriented sectors or earning above median income were more likely to experience wage loss. Finally, the Ministry of Manpower is studying the impact of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme launched in April 2025 to assess whether enhancements are needed.
Transcript
64 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) in the last three years, what proportion of retrenched professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) are re-employed into a different industry; (b) what proportion experience lower wages upon re-employment; (c) how these outcomes differ by previous industry and last-drawn salary band; and (d) whether the Jobseeker Support Scheme can be enhanced to support more PMETs.
Ms Jasmin Lau: From 2023 to 2025, 67.4% of retrenched resident Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) who were re-employed switched to a different industry, of which 60.2% of them earned lower wages than their last-drawn salary.
Retrenched resident PMETs who remained in the same industry were less likely to experience wage loss. Of those that switched to a different industry, retrenched resident PMETs from outward-oriented sectors (for example, Manufacturing, Transport and Storage) were more likely to experience wage decline upon re-employment. On the other hand, those from domestic-oriented sectors (for example, Food and Beverage services, Retail Trade) were less likely to experience wage decline upon re-employment into a different sector. Retrenched resident PMETs with previous earnings above the median PMET income were more likely to experience wage loss.
The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support (JS) scheme provides temporary financial support to involuntarily unemployed individuals who are actively seeking employment. The Ministry of Manpower is studying the impact of the JS scheme, which was launched in April 2025 and will assess if enhancements are needed.