Retrenched in their 50s: The long road back to work for older workers

Retrenched Singaporean workers in their 50s are struggling to find new employment, taking longer to bounce back after losing their jobs. Three such individuals share their experiences with CNA.

Francis Lee, 59, was last seen working in February 2025, having been retrenched from his director role at a multinational packaging firm. Despite having savings and a golden handshake, Lee cannot afford to retire due to rising living costs and a desire to stay active. He attempted to secure full-time employment by sending out applications and taking AI courses, but only managed one interview and no offers.

Lee then turned to contract work and consulting, setting up his own business, APAC Edge, in April. Unemployment rates among Singaporean workers aged 50 to 59 in the April to June quarter were the highest, at 3.6 per 1,000 workers, with 3.1 per cent experiencing long-term unemployment (six months or more).

Rahmat Mohamad, 53, was laid off from a creative production role at a media firm in December 2024. He had transitioned into this position after years as a logistics supervisor and pursuing a diploma in motion and graphic design. Reflecting on his job search, he noted that formal training did not yield results, as employers often sought experience for entry-level roles. After a year of unemployment, Mohamad returned to a lower-paying logistics role in March, while simultaneously pursuing a diploma in data science.