The shift we’ve been hearing about is no longer "future talk"—it’s happening right now. AI is cutting through both white-collar and blue-collar roles at a pace we haven't seen before, and the harsh reality is that job creation is not keeping up with job losses.
It’s been a heavy start to the year. Seeing a few of my own friends get retrenched recently has made it clear: the shift is no longer just "news"—it’s our current reality.
🚨 MASS LAYOFF TRACKER: The Numbers Don't Lie
The scale of recent announcements is staggering. From tech giants to logistics and manufacturing, no sector is safe:
US Gov (DOGE): 317,000
UPS: 78,000
Amazon: 30,000
Intel: 25,000
Citigroup / Nissan: 20,000 each
Nestlé: 16,000
Microsoft: 15,000
Bosch / Verizon: 13,000 each
Dell: 12,000
Accenture / Ford: 11,000 each
Novo Nordisk: 9,000
P&G / Heineken / HP: 6,000 - 7,000 each
PwC / Siemens: 5,600 each
...and dozens more, including Salesforce, ANZ, IBM, and Meta.
🏠 PROPERTY BUYERS: BEWARE OF OVER-LEVERAGING
If you are looking at the Singapore property market right now, caution is key.
1. Job Security is a Myth: With AI officially replacing roles at a mass scale, you never know when your "stable" paycheck might disappear.
2. Don't Overstretch: Avoid taking on massive loans that require two high incomes to sustain. If one person is displaced, can you still afford the mortgage?
3. Increasing Competition: Remember, you aren't just competing with AI. You are competing with new arrivals and naturalised Singaporeans for a limited pool of roles.
💡 THE SURVIVAL STRATEGY
In this new economy, your degree or your past "years of service" may not be enough to protect you.
Network is Net Worth: Personal connections and "who you know" are becoming the ultimate safety net to stand out in a crowded market.
Stay Lean: Keep your overheads low. Cash flow is king when the job market is volatile.
Where will all these people go? The landscape is changing fast. Stay alert, stay connected, and most importantly—stay financially prudent.
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