{
  "id": 10096860,
  "title": "Singapore woman questions the point of climbing the corporate ladder: ‘I’d rather earn less and actually live’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/singapore-woman-questions-the-point-of-climbing-the-corporate-ladder",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T00:03:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Independent Singapore",
    "slug": "the-independent-singapore",
    "url": "https://theindependent.sg/singapore-woman-questions-the-point-of-climbing-the-corporate-ladder-i-d-rather-earn-less-and-actually-live"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Singaporean woman has begun questioning the value of pursuing a corporate career in today's uncertain economy, suggesting she might prefer a simpler, less stressful job that allows her to enjoy life outside work. The woman, who has experience in corporate and HR environments, expressed her dissatisfaction with the constant deadlines, KPIs, office politics, and the pressure to care about company goals. She feels that the traditional career path doesn't align with her values and her soul.\n\nAI advancements have further fueled her doubts about the necessity of constantly upskilling and climbing the corporate ladder. While she is not afraid of job losses due to AI, she wonders about the purpose of relentlessly pursuing career progression. The woman believes that having the freedom to travel, explore different places, spend quality time with loved ones, and genuinely experience life is more important than endlessly chasing career advancement.\n\nShe is considering temporary data entry/admin jobs, which may not be glamorous or high-paying but would provide her with the time and energy to live her life. The woman is curious if others have also chosen a lower-stress, lower-paying job over the corporate ladder and would be interested in their experiences. Some commenters have shared their own stories of leaving the corporate world due to office politics, soullessness, and the desire for a more fulfilling life.\n\nHowever, others argue that opting for a lower-paying job is not feasible for everyone, especially those with dependents, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations. Some also noted that certain menial or lower-paying jobs might still be vulnerable to AI replacement. Additionally, the long-term consequences of deviating from the traditional career path, such as delayed financial security and the inability to retire early, were brought up by a few commenters.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: At some point, many of us were told that the goal was to land a well-paying job at a big company, climb the corporate ladder, and keep moving upwards. However, with the economy feeling increasingly uncertain, the job market becoming more unforgiving, and layoffs becoming a familiar reality, is that still the life we want to work towards? Should we keep sacrificing our nights, our…",
  "key_points": [
    "Singaporean woman doubts corporate ladder's value in uncertain economy",
    "Prefers simpler, less stressful job to enjoy life outside work",
    "AI advancements fuel doubts about relentless career progression"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This shift in priorities signals a potential reevaluation of what career success means, as personal fulfillment and work-life balance gain importance over traditional measures of professional advancement.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}