Reduction of Entry-level Roles for Fresh Graduates and Young Jobseekers Attributable to AI Adoption

23 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) how much of the decline in job vacancies from December 2025 to March 2026, based on the Ministry's Labour Market Report First Quarter 2026, is attributable to a reduction in entry-level roles for fresh graduates and young job seekers; and (b) whether this decline is linked to AI adoption trends as reported in the same document.

Ms Jasmin Lau: Total job vacancies fell from 77,700 in December 2025 to 73,300 in March 2026. The decline was driven primarily by a decrease in non-Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMET) vacancies. Entry-level PMET job openings increased slightly from 32,500 in December 2025 to 32,800 in March 2026, indicating that the decline did not reflect a reduction in entry-level roles for fresh graduates and young job seekers.

Our survey suggests that the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) so far has been more on job redesign than on broad-based reductions in hiring. Among the three in 10 firms which had adopted AI, only 6% reported reducing headcount and 8% reported lowering hiring activity. By comparison, 19% reported redesigning roles and 14% reported creating AI-related jobs.

The Ministry of Manpower will continue to support fresh graduates and young job seekers through initiatives that help them build industry-relevant skills, gain meaningful work experience and secure good job opportunities.