Issue #54: What’s Happening This Week? CDC Vouchers, Economy Surges, HDB Prices Slow, and More

Welcome to our 54th edition of What’s Happening This Week—and our very first roundup of 2026! We’re kicking off the new year with a pocket-friendly treat for households, a strong economic performance that’s turning heads, and big shifts in the property market for both buyers and renters. Curious what’s happening to HDB prices and rents? We’ve got you covered. Plus, the latest hiring and skills trends could shape your career plans, especially as Singapore’s AI ambitions heat up. Seven stories, fresh opportunities, and a look ahead—it’s all here to start your year right.

Psst, missed last week’s issue? View all past editions of What’s Happening This Week? to catch up.

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Singaporean households can claim $300 in CDC vouchers from 2 Jan

Good news for Singaporeans: every household can now claim $300 in CDC (Community Development Council) vouchers, starting from today, 2 Jan 2026. These digital vouchers aim to help with daily expenses and can be used at more than 24,000 heartland merchants, hawkers, and eight supermarket chains—including NTUC FairPrice, Giant, Sheng Siong, and Cold Storage.

How the vouchers work:

• $150: For heartland shops and hawkers
• $150: For supermarkets

How to claim:

1. One household member logs in to go.gov.sg/cdcv with Singpass
2. Receive a voucher link via SMS (shareable with family)
3. Spend vouchers by 31 Dec 2026

Quick facts:

Remember, CDC vouchers do not require any bank log-in or money transfer—beware of scams! For help, Digital Ambassadors will be at community centres from 2–15 Jan 2026.

The CDC scheme has an impressive claim rate of 97.7% in past rounds, showing just how valued this support is for daily living.

ALSO READ: Singaporean Households to Receive Additional $300 CDC Vouchers in Jan 2026: How to Claim, Where to Spend Them, Etc.

Singapore’s Q4 economy outpaces forecasts, led by manufacturing surge

Singapore’s economy finished 2025 on a high, growing 5.7% in the fourth quarter—outpacing expectations. For the full year, growth came in at a robust 4.8%, beating earlier forecasts by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

What’s driving growth?

• Manufacturing: Expanded by 15% in Q4 (up from 4.9% in Q3), thanks to a boom in biomedical manufacturing and AI-related electronics.
• Construction: Up 4.2% year-on-year in Q4, supported by more public and private building projects.
• Services: Sectors like information and communications, finance, and professional services grew 4.2%. Wholesale trade and retail, as well as transport, also posted healthy gains.

Key numbers at a glance:

Growth was mainly powered by strong demand for pharmaceuticals and electronics linked to AI, with every major sector in the black. While this performance is a bright spot, officials warn that sustaining such momentum could be challenging amid global uncertainties.

HDB resale price growth slows to lowest since 2019

After years of rapid increases, HDB resale prices in Singapore grew by just 2.9% in 2025—down sharply from 9.7% in 2024 and marking the slowest pace since 2019. For the first time since the pandemic, prices held steady in the last quarter of 2025, according to HDB’s latest flash estimates.

What’s happening?

• Price growth has slowed for four quarters straight, with the last three quarters of 2025 each seeing gains of less than 1%.
• Resale volumes also took a dip, dropping 18.8% year-on-year in the last quarter.
• For all of 2025, there were 26,042 resale transactions—down nearly 10% from 2024.

Why the slowdown?

• Nearly 13,500 flats are set to reach their minimum occupation period (MOP) in 2026, nearly double that of 2025, increasing supply and options for buyers.
• Analysts expect HDB resale prices to rise a further 2–4% in 2026, still below the 10-year average of 5.1%.
• Factors like lower mortgage rates, healthy income growth, and more premium flats in mature estates may help support prices.

Key stats:

Tip: With more choices on the horizon, buyers may find it easier to secure a flat without bidding wars. Sellers should keep an eye on the market, as price growth looks set to stay modest for now.

ALSO READ: Rising HDB Prices in 2025: How to Decide Between Buying Now, Waiting for a BTO, or Renting

Rental market stabilises: supply surge set to cap growth in 2026

Singapore’s rental market has finally taken a breather after a wild ride the last few years. Private residential rents soared to a new high in 2023 but fell by 1.9% in 2024, with things stabilising in 2025. HDB rental growth also slowed down noticeably.

What’s driving the change?

• More homes are entering the market, giving tenants more choice.
• Experts predict only modest rent increases (2.5–3%) for private properties in 2026, a far cry from the hefty 29.7% jump seen in 2022.
• HDB rents are set to rise just slightly, thanks to thousands of flats reaching their five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).

Key numbers at a glance:

What this means for you:

• Landlords will face more competition as supply grows.
• Renters looking for value may want to target newly MOP HDB flats, especially those near MRTs and amenities, which could fetch higher rents.
• Expect rent prices to level out, rather than surge, as the market balances out supply and demand.

Private home prices see slowest rise in 5 years

Private home prices in Singapore grew by just 3.4% in 2025—the most modest increase since 2020. Growth has clearly slowed, with a 0.7% uptick in the last quarter of the year, following a 0.9% gain previously. Analysts say this reflects a stabilising market after years of double-digit growth and government cooling measures.

At a glance:

• The biggest jump was in the Outside Central Region (+1% in Q4).
• Core Central Region prices actually dipped 3.2% in Q4, while landed property prices were up 3.5% for the year.
• Non-landed private property prices slipped slightly in the last quarter.

Quick stats:

What’s next for 2026?

• The government plans to release nearly 9,200 new private residential units in the first half of 2026.
• More than half of new launches will be in the suburbs, where prices tend to be lower.
• Analysts expect 2026 price growth to remain moderate, in the 2.5–4.5% range.

With the market cooling, home buyers can expect less frenzy and more options, especially outside the city centre. Sellers should manage their expectations as prices are likely to rise at a gentler pace going forward.

Jobstreet by SEEK: Five must-know job trends for thriving in 2026

Singapore’s job market is getting tougher, with retrenchments rising and job vacancies dropping. But it’s not all doom and gloom—there are clear signals about how to stay competitive and resilient this year.

Here are the top trends jobseekers should watch:

• Job hugging is on the rise:
  • Fewer people are job hopping—only 7.6% changed jobs in 2025, down from 8.2% in 2024.
  • Young professionals are more likely to stay put, but 6 in 10 job switchers still saw higher pay.
• Workplace priorities are shifting:
  • 49% of employees say their priorities have changed since starting work.
    • Aged 25–34: 33% now put mental health first.
    • Aged 35–44: 31% put family and caregiving responsibilities at the top.
• AI skills are now essential:
  • 54% of employers consider AI skills when hiring, and 19% make it a primary factor.
  • Searches for “data analysis” (+12%) and “automation” (+93%) soared for entry-level roles.
• Experience is less important than attitude:
  • 64% of employers are open to hiring less-experienced candidates with the right mindset.
  • Keywords like “fresh graduate” (+82%) and “no experience” (+34%) surged in job ads.
• “New collar” tech skills and languages make candidates stand out:
  • Huge growth in IT (+169%), science & tech (+29%), and security/law (+24%) applications.
  • Language skills are hot: “Chinese”/“Mandarin”, “Japanese”, and “Korean” all climbed in popularity for job searches.

How to get ahead in 2026:

• Upskill in AI, data, and automation
• Show off both technical and soft skills
• Highlight language abilities in your CV
• Stay open to opportunities—even if you lack experience, attitude matters more than ever

Bottom line: Jobseekers who upskill, show flexibility, and play to their strengths—especially in tech and languages—will be best placed to ride out a challenging 2026.

ALSO READ: Everyone’s Getting a Side Hustle… Does That Mean You Should Too?

Teachers and software developers top Singapore’s in-demand jobs as AI surges

Singapore’s AI ambitions are ramping up, and that’s reshaping the local job market. According to MOM’s latest data, teachers and software developers are leading the list of most sought-after professionals in 2025, especially as sectors like info-communications and finance keep growing.

Key trends jobseekers should know:

• Specialist skills win big:
  • AI governance, machine learning, and cybersecurity are now highly prized.
  • Tech roles such as software, web, and multimedia developers are in short supply, with companies sometimes paying up to 20% more for AI-related talent (salaries range from $110,000 to $210,000).
• Teaching professionals in high demand:
  • Schools are set to play a key part in nurturing future AI talent, making teaching roles more vital than ever.
• Experience and adaptability matter:
  • Companies increasingly value practical experience, certifications, and hands-on project work over just formal degrees.
  • For strong candidates, multiple job offers are common, so the competition for top talent is fierce.

Top roles in 2025:
PMET vacancies:

• Teaching and training professionals
• Software/web/multimedia/game developers and designers
• Commercial and marketing sales executives

Non-PMET vacancies:

• Construction labourers (driven by infrastructure projects and upgrades)

Emerging sectors to watch in 2026:

• Sustainability and “green” jobs
• Health tech
• AI risk and compliance

Building in-demand skills and industry certifications—especially in AI, data, and tech—will help jobseekers stay ahead. Roles in teaching, tech, and even skilled construction are expected to remain resilient.

That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond. 

This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.

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