Singapore SMEs: New Workforce Grants and Job Redesign Funding Available in 2026

Singapore SMEs should take advantage of expanded workforce development grants and job redesign funding now available under the Government's latest labour market initiatives, particularly as hiring and wage expectations continue to strengthen across the economy.

1. SMEs eligible for the SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant (Job Redesign+) can claim up to 70% funding for workforce transformation and job redesign project costs, capped at $150,000 per enterprise, with higher support levels provided specifically for Small and Medium Enterprises
2. Employers can also access the Career Conversion Programmes and Mid-Career Pathways Programme to reskill and upskill their existing workforce at subsidised rates, with application windows opening on an ongoing basis through the SkillsFuture portal

SMEs that operate in outward-oriented or restructuring-affected sectors may face higher retrenchment pressures — the 2Q 2026 data showed retrenchments rising to 4,500 (1.9 per 1,000 employees) — but the Government's support programmes are designed to help them absorb shocks through workforce transformation rather than layoffs.

Tip: Register your job redesign project through the SkillsFuture portal as early as possible; funding approval is project-specific and not automatic, and early registration improves your chances of securing the higher SME support tier before quota limits are reached.

Source: https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2026/0731-labour-market-advance-release-2q-2026