Breakdown of Retrenched PMET Re-employment Outcomes by Industry and Wage Difference, and Enhancing Jobseeker Support Scheme

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.