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• DOLE Philippines to offer 90,000 jobs in Independence Day job fairs

  The Philippine Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) will offer 90,000 jobs through 49 nationwide job fairs on June 12 to mark Independence Day. Each site will feature a one-stop shop for employment-related services, including document processing, career counselling, and skills training. Over PHP 264 million in livelihood aid will also be distributed to 37,593 disadvantaged workers.

  

• Amazon to create 1,250 cloud computing and AI jobs in Pennsylvania

  Amazon is investing $20 billion in Pennsylvania to create 1,250 jobs in cloud computing and AI while launching workforce training programs. The initiative establishes two data centres and expands education efforts, offering data centre technician certifications, fibre optic fusion splicing workshops, and STEM education for K-12 students. Pennsylvania is also committing $10 million to enhance technical education and develop training centres, ensuring the state has a skilled workforce for its growing tech sector.

  

• Avanos Medical names Camille Chang Gilmore as Chief Human Resources Officer

  Camille Chang Gilmore brings over 25 years of HR leadership across diverse industries to Avanos Medical as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to this, she served as Global Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of HR in Boston Scientific’s Interventional Cardiology division. At Avanos, she will lead the global people agenda, steering talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, and improving the employee experience.

  

• 81% of Hong Kong employers say rising benefit costs are reshaping talent strategies: Report

  Employers in Hong Kong and across Asia Pacific are grappling with rising benefit costs, according to a WTW survey. A significant 81% of Hong Kong employers are prioritising cost control in their benefits strategy. Companies are shifting from expanding benefits to optimising existing offerings, focusing on personalised value and improved employee experience.

  

• 63% of APME firms step up automation as Q3 hiring remains stable: Survey

  Hiring sentiment remains strong across Asia Pacific and the Middle East for Q3 2025, with a Net Employment Outlook of +28%, unchanged from Q2 but 7 points higher than last year. Tech, financial services, and industrial sectors are driving demand, while 63% of employers are ramping up automation investments. Business expansion is the top reason for hiring, as companies balance growth with caution amid global economic uncertainties.

  

• Labour movement must prepare workers for future job roles: NTUC president

  At the International Labour Conference, NTUC President K. Thanaletchimi reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to reskilling workers for future job mobility amid global economic uncertainty. NTUC has formed over 3,000 Company Training Committees, with 400 projects benefitting 7,400 workers so far. She also highlighted new laws to protect platform workers and combat workplace discrimination. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng cited the Progressive Wage Model and Workfare as examples of tripartite efforts narrowing income gaps and boosting job resilience.

  

• The Access Group appoints Sik Kwang Then as Employee Success Director

  Sik Kwang Then brings over 13 years of international HR leadership experience. His role as Employee Success Director at The Access Group has been effective since 9 June 2025. In this role, he plays a key role in supporting the company’s vision to build a world-class operations centre and elevate employee experience in line with its rapid growth goals.

  

• Thailand announces in entertainment hub, set to create up to 10,000 jobs

  Thailand’s THB 100 billion entertainment complex aims to create up to 10,000 jobs, boost tourism, and enhance infrastructure. Prioritising local hiring and strict regulatory frameworks, the project could triple tourist spending and generate billions in public revenue for community welfare.

  

• BlackRock to slash 300 jobs

  BlackRock is cutting about 300 jobs, over 1% of its workforce, in its second round of layoffs this year, despite a recent 14% headcount increase following major acquisitions. The move mirrors broader Wall Street trends, as firms manage workforce costs while pursuing growth in private markets.

  

• Malaysia revises e-invoicing timeline to support MSME readiness: Deputy Finance Minister

  Malaysia has postponed the e-invoice rollout for MSMEs, offering a staggered timeline through 2026 to ease compliance pressures. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the decision follows extensive feedback from the business community, with the revised plan aiming to ease compliance burdens and ensure a smoother transition.

  

• Malaysia exempts stamp duty on job contracts signed before 2025

  Malaysia will begin enforcing stamp duty on all employment contracts signed from January 1, 2025. While contracts signed before January 1, 2025, are exempt, those signed during 2025 must be stamped by year-end to avoid penalties. The RM10 duty applies to nearly all contracts, as most salaries exceed the RM300 exemption threshold. The Inland Revenue Board urges employers to update existing contracts to comply with the Stamp Act 1949, following audit findings tied to Budget 2025’s self-assessment reforms.

  

• US job growth slows in May, unemployment remains steady

  US job growth likely slowed to 130,000 in May, down from 177,000 in April, as businesses faced tariff-related uncertainty. Yet the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, and wage growth remained strong at 3.7%. Employers appear to be retaining workers, creating a low-hiring, low-layoff environment. The Fed is expected to stay cautious, delaying rate cuts until later in the year.

  

• Procter & Gamble to cut 7,000 jobs over the next two years

  Procter & Gamble will cut up to 7,000 jobs, about 15% of its non-manufacturing workforce, over two years as part of a global restructuring plan. The move will streamline operations by reducing team sizes, broadening roles, and possibly exiting select markets and product categories. Executives cited growing geopolitical and economic unpredictability, noting that the changes are an acceleration of ongoing efforts to stay competitive in a challenging business environment.

  

• 57% of workers worldwide live paycheck to paycheck amid record job growth: Report

  ADP’s People at Work 2025 report reveals that 57% of workers globally lived paycheck to paycheck in 2024, despite record employment levels. Approximately 23% held multiple jobs solely to meet their basic expenses. In Singapore, financial pressure runs deeper, with 60% of workers reporting similar struggles, including 26% who juggle more than one job, outpacing the APAC average. The report underscores stark regional and generational disparities and calls on employers to adopt holistic pay and benefits strategies to boost financial well-being and workforce retention.

  

• Walmart slashes jobs in Florida

  Walmart is cutting jobs at several Florida stores after recent Supreme Court rulings affected migrant workers’ legal residency. Employees without updated work authorisations face termination. Walt Disney is also ending jobs for affected Florida-based workers, highlighting growing immigration-related workforce challenges in the US retail sector.

  

• 57% of global workers live paycheck to paycheck despite record employment, ADP reports

  Despite record global employment in 2024, 57% of workers still live paycheck to paycheck, with 23% holding multiple jobs to cover basic expenses, according to ADP’s People at Work 2025 report. In Singapore, 60% of workers face similar financial strain, above the APAC average, while 26% juggle more than one job. The report highlights sharp regional and generational divides and urges employers to adopt holistic compensation strategies to improve workforce financial resilience and retention.