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Lifestyle
'I felt helpless, demoralised and lost': Unemployed Singaporeans share their mental health struggles in a challenging job market
PUBLISHED ONOctober 11, 2025 4:00 PMBYMelissa Teo
To mark World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), AsiaOne looks at how everyday Singaporeans cope with mental health issues in their lives.
With a comfortable amount of savings to back her up, Lena Ng assumed that quitting her full-time job as a client account manager, despite not having another job lined up, was a risk worth taking to spend more time with her child.
She took this leap of faith in December last year and began seriously job hunting in March, but to this day, she has yet to secure a new role.
The 32-year-old told AsiaOne that over the past few months, she has applied to more than 300 jobs, and a few companies had even brought her through multiple rounds of interviews.
While she believed she was a strong fit for several of these positions — with interviewers echoing the same sentiments — none of them resulted in a job offer.
"It is very demoralising, for sure, and I feel very lost and anxious," she shared, adding that her predicament began affecting her mental health negatively.
Lena quit her full-time job to spend more time with her young daughter. PHOTO: Lena Ng
Lena is not alone in this bleak job search. According to the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore's overall unemployment rate was 1.9 per cent in 2023. From 2024 to March this year, this increased slightly to 2.0 per cent.
Between March and June this year, the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons declined from 1.64 to 1.35, as the number of vacancies continued to fall. During the same period, the recruitment rate dropped from 1.8 per cent in the first quarter to to 1.6 per cent in the second quarter.
Lena shared that the stress from being unable to secure a job has led to many sleepless nights and self-doubt.
"I started blaming myself. I wondered what was wrong with me," she said.
In the midst of these dark periods, she would think of her daughter to encourage herself.
"I cannot give up because of her, I cannot just settle," Lena shared.
In the meantime, to make ends meet, she does TikTok livestreaming and children's face painting.
As she is unable to find a job, Lena does livestreams (left) and children's face painting (right) to earn a living. PHOTO: Lena Ng
Dave Peter Ho is someone who is in a similar predicament as Lena, with the added challenge of being a fresh graduate.
It has been almost a year since he graduated from Nanyang Technological University, but the business school fresh graduate has struggled to secure a corporate job despite applying to more than 200 roles in e-commerce, tech sales and business development across the span of seven months.
"It's been demoralising and super draining because it's a lengthy process and involves many, many months of interviews," Dave told AsiaOne, adding that there were several instances where he had made it through multiple rounds of interviews, only to be dropped at the final stage.
But the 27-year-old shared that around 90 per cent of the time, companies either ghost him midway or never respond to his applications at all.
"Whenever this happened, I felt helpless, very demoralised and quite lost. Because when these companies ghost me, I don't know whether I've really been rejected or if they still need some time to think about it," he shared.
At the start of his job search, Dave had been optimistic about his career prospects because he had interned at a reputable company from May to August 2024, a few months before he graduated.
"I thought that it would help me land a job more easily but it wasn't the case," he shared.
He isn't the only affected fresh graduate.
The latest annual graduate employment surveys conducted by local universities and polytechnics show that fewer of their fresh graduates secured full-time employment in 2024.
For fresh graduates from universities, 79.5 per cent of them secured full-time jobs in 2024, down from 84.1 per cent in 2023.
Employment outcomes for polytechnic graduates also declined, with 54.6 per cent of them in full-time permanent jobs in 2024, down from about 60 per cent in 2023.
But while Dave agrees that the job market is challenging and fresh graduates like himself are struggling to find jobs, he also feels that he and others in a similar situation should manage their expectations.
"Ultimately, it's also the expectation that the fresh graduates have. Because now many companies will lowball fresh graduates and they may not want to take up these jobs," he explained.
"Fresh graduates want higher paying roles but at the same time, there are a lot of smart people out there as well, so the competition is steeper."
Despite it being a very trying period in his life, Dave said the support from his friends and girlfriend keep him going.
Some friends he met on TikTok — where he is currently doing livestreams to earn a living — have also been helpful.
Dave shared that after posting videos on his job hunt, several netizens have messaged him to share their own career struggles.
"They felt like they weren't alone when they saw my videos, so that gave me a little community," he said.
However, one common issue many unemployed individuals face is a decline in self-esteem, clinical psychologist Sara-ann Lee from The Psychology Practice told AsiaOne.
"What you do for work, any kind of work, it gives some sort of identity to people," the 35-year-old shared, adding that it has become a "starting point" that people know themselves or other people by.
To illustrate her point, she described a situation where an unemployed person is expected to socialise.
"If you go out and meet new people, whether it's for a gathering with friends or networking in general, one of the most common questions is about your job," she said.
"It's a starting point for a lot of people getting to know each other. And if, let's say, you are unemployed, it might be quite difficult for you to decide that you feel confident enough to participate in some of these events."
Sara noted that society tends to expect young, able-bodied people of working age to be employed and self-sufficient.
"Most people don't really endorse the idea that you can just be unemployed because you prefer to be. It almost seems like it's a necessary component for survival," she said, adding that this could lead to a loss of identity.
"So if everyone else your age is working, those who do not work for whatever reason — either they choose not to or they are not able to find the kind of employment that they really desire — may feel left out of many of these things that other people go through, such as being somewhere in the morning, going for meetings, or having bosses you can complain about to your friends."
She also highlighted that feelings of stress, guilt, shame and embarrassment are common for people who have been retrenched, especially when it comes to telling others that they have been laid off.
Read Also
lifestyle
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]Mental health enigma: AsiaOne study reveals people's tendencies to urge others to seek help, but not themselveshttps://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/m...-peoples-tendencies-urge-others-seek-help-not
"There seems to be some negative connotations that they think society or people in general will feel if they were the ones that were asked to leave the company," said Sara.
Aside from self-esteem, financial stress is another major concern for the unemployed.
"If you have a family, you have a house, you have a car, all these other liabilities, it will definitely affect your mood in terms of how you feel. So people may start to feel a little bit sad, a little bit depressed, quite down," said Sara.
She went on to explain how the absence of financial stability can affect a person's overall mindset and daily functioning.
"Work also brings about financial freedom, in some sense, it might also limit other things that you do. For example, if you are worried about having enough money to get by, you probably may not be in the mood to think about things like hobbies or enjoyment."
Even the process of job hunting can take a toll on mental health, and activities like sending emails, submitting applications and waiting for responses often add to the pressure.
"We might get a higher rate of people endorsing some symptoms of anxiety, especially if they're trying to apply for jobs," said Sara.
"It might affect things like sleep and appetite as well, because if let's say, you never hear back from any of them, then you might not sleep very well, because you could be in a state of panic and worry."
This in turn could lead to overall lethargy, chronic health problems and being more at risk of having lower immunity.
If you're unemployed and struggling, Sara advises you to not give up and keep trying.
"Send out as many resumes as you need, go and meet people if you can, even though it's difficult and even though you might find that it's challenging. Because they need the hope and opportunities in order to finally be able to secure the employment that they truly desire," she said.
singapore
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]Over 280 applications, 0 offers: Fresh grad's year-long job hunt highlights new jobseeker woes[/COLOR]
[email protected]
For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.[/COLOR]
mental healthjobsCareersEmployment/Unemployment
[COLOR=rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.73)]Now playing:[/COLOR]
Inside Singapore's amateur football: The final showdown | Saturday Nights Live
Watch More Videos[/COLOR]
PUBLISHED ONOctober 06, 2025 11:29 AMBYMelissa Teo
This year's Miss Universe 2025 competition had a total of 15 finalists who have their own unique stories, such as an entrepreneur who began designing maternity bras at just 13 to a woman living with a rare skin condition.
Out of all the lot, Annika Xue Sager was crowned the winner during the finale held at Amber Lounge, The Clifford Pier, Fullerton Bay Hotel, shared a press release on Monday (Oct 6).
The 25-year-old master's student, fitness instructor and model will be representing Singapore on the global stage at the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand this November.
Annika also became the first to wear the newly unveiled Lumina Orchid crown, designed by NJS Gold, in celebration of SG60.
"My journey back to Singapore after studying abroad has been deeply meaningful. It gave me the chance to reconnect with the country where I was born, yet never had the opportunity to truly grow up in because of my international upbringing," Annika said.
"I may not sound like a typical Singaporean, nor look like one, but I know I embody the evolving face of Singapore — resilient, determined, and future-focused."
The first runner-up was 19-year-old Inez Chen, a business management undergraduate, and the second runner-up is Alexis Kaur, 24, an IVF specialist nurse.
As the winner, Annika will win a $10,000 cash prize, a Smile MakeOver from Orchard Scotts Dental worth $20,000, an eight-carat gold bracelet from NJS Gold, as well as six months of Absolute Fitness training
The first runner-up, Inez, will win a $3,000 cash prize, an eight-carat gold ring from NJS Gold, and one month unlimited Absolute Fitness and The Reformer Society classes
And the second runner-up, Alexis will win a $2,000 cash prize, an eight-Carat Gold Ring from NJS Gold, and one month unlimited Absolute Fitness and The Reformer Society classes.
The three winners will also secure talent management representation with Basic Models Singapore.
Additional subsidiary titles were awarded as well, such as Miss Congeniality, which went to social media strategist Tiffany Tay, 28, Miss Body Beautiful, which went to Annika, and Miss Fan Favourite by Zetrix, which too went to Annika.
"Tonight, we not only crowned a new queen but also celebrated Singapore's 60th year of independence with the debut of the Lumina Orchid crown," said national director of Miss Universe Singapore, Elaine Daly.
"This win is about more than beauty; it is about resilience, purpose, and a woman's ability to inspire change. Annika will carry Singapore's voice onto the Miss Universe stage, and I could not be prouder of the woman she has become."
Read Also
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[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]26-year-old wins Miss Universe Singapore 2024, transgender beauty queen makes top 5https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/2...n-makes-top-5-charlotte-chia-qatrisha-zairyah
[email protected]
For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.
Miss UniverseawardsBeauty pageantsCompetitionWomen[/COLOR]
READ FULL ARTICLE
AsiaOne Online Pte Ltd
Available onGOOGLE PLAY
[/COLOR]
Lifestyle
'I felt helpless, demoralised and lost': Unemployed Singaporeans share their mental health struggles in a challenging job market
lifestyle
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]'I felt helpless, demoralised and lost': Unemployed Singaporeans share their mental health struggles in a challenging job market
Dave (left) and Lena (right) are two individuals who have struggled to find jobs over the past few months.
PHOTO: Dave Peter Ho, Lena Ng
PHOTO: Dave Peter Ho, Lena Ng
To mark World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), AsiaOne looks at how everyday Singaporeans cope with mental health issues in their lives.
With a comfortable amount of savings to back her up, Lena Ng assumed that quitting her full-time job as a client account manager, despite not having another job lined up, was a risk worth taking to spend more time with her child.
She took this leap of faith in December last year and began seriously job hunting in March, but to this day, she has yet to secure a new role.
The 32-year-old told AsiaOne that over the past few months, she has applied to more than 300 jobs, and a few companies had even brought her through multiple rounds of interviews.
While she believed she was a strong fit for several of these positions — with interviewers echoing the same sentiments — none of them resulted in a job offer.
"It is very demoralising, for sure, and I feel very lost and anxious," she shared, adding that her predicament began affecting her mental health negatively.
Lena quit her full-time job to spend more time with her young daughter. PHOTO: Lena Ng
Lena is not alone in this bleak job search. According to the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore's overall unemployment rate was 1.9 per cent in 2023. From 2024 to March this year, this increased slightly to 2.0 per cent.
Between March and June this year, the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons declined from 1.64 to 1.35, as the number of vacancies continued to fall. During the same period, the recruitment rate dropped from 1.8 per cent in the first quarter to to 1.6 per cent in the second quarter.
Lena shared that the stress from being unable to secure a job has led to many sleepless nights and self-doubt.
"I started blaming myself. I wondered what was wrong with me," she said.
In the midst of these dark periods, she would think of her daughter to encourage herself.
"I cannot give up because of her, I cannot just settle," Lena shared.
In the meantime, to make ends meet, she does TikTok livestreaming and children's face painting.
As she is unable to find a job, Lena does livestreams (left) and children's face painting (right) to earn a living. PHOTO: Lena Ng
Dave Peter Ho is someone who is in a similar predicament as Lena, with the added challenge of being a fresh graduate.
It has been almost a year since he graduated from Nanyang Technological University, but the business school fresh graduate has struggled to secure a corporate job despite applying to more than 200 roles in e-commerce, tech sales and business development across the span of seven months.
"It's been demoralising and super draining because it's a lengthy process and involves many, many months of interviews," Dave told AsiaOne, adding that there were several instances where he had made it through multiple rounds of interviews, only to be dropped at the final stage.
But the 27-year-old shared that around 90 per cent of the time, companies either ghost him midway or never respond to his applications at all.
"Whenever this happened, I felt helpless, very demoralised and quite lost. Because when these companies ghost me, I don't know whether I've really been rejected or if they still need some time to think about it," he shared.
At the start of his job search, Dave had been optimistic about his career prospects because he had interned at a reputable company from May to August 2024, a few months before he graduated.
"I thought that it would help me land a job more easily but it wasn't the case," he shared.
He isn't the only affected fresh graduate.
The latest annual graduate employment surveys conducted by local universities and polytechnics show that fewer of their fresh graduates secured full-time employment in 2024.
For fresh graduates from universities, 79.5 per cent of them secured full-time jobs in 2024, down from 84.1 per cent in 2023.
Employment outcomes for polytechnic graduates also declined, with 54.6 per cent of them in full-time permanent jobs in 2024, down from about 60 per cent in 2023.
But while Dave agrees that the job market is challenging and fresh graduates like himself are struggling to find jobs, he also feels that he and others in a similar situation should manage their expectations.
"Ultimately, it's also the expectation that the fresh graduates have. Because now many companies will lowball fresh graduates and they may not want to take up these jobs," he explained.
"Fresh graduates want higher paying roles but at the same time, there are a lot of smart people out there as well, so the competition is steeper."
Despite it being a very trying period in his life, Dave said the support from his friends and girlfriend keep him going.
Some friends he met on TikTok — where he is currently doing livestreams to earn a living — have also been helpful.
Dave shared that after posting videos on his job hunt, several netizens have messaged him to share their own career struggles.
"They felt like they weren't alone when they saw my videos, so that gave me a little community," he said.
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]A loss of identity
Unemployment can lead to a wide range of mental health challenges.However, one common issue many unemployed individuals face is a decline in self-esteem, clinical psychologist Sara-ann Lee from The Psychology Practice told AsiaOne.
"What you do for work, any kind of work, it gives some sort of identity to people," the 35-year-old shared, adding that it has become a "starting point" that people know themselves or other people by.
To illustrate her point, she described a situation where an unemployed person is expected to socialise.
"If you go out and meet new people, whether it's for a gathering with friends or networking in general, one of the most common questions is about your job," she said.
"It's a starting point for a lot of people getting to know each other. And if, let's say, you are unemployed, it might be quite difficult for you to decide that you feel confident enough to participate in some of these events."
Sara noted that society tends to expect young, able-bodied people of working age to be employed and self-sufficient.
"Most people don't really endorse the idea that you can just be unemployed because you prefer to be. It almost seems like it's a necessary component for survival," she said, adding that this could lead to a loss of identity.
"So if everyone else your age is working, those who do not work for whatever reason — either they choose not to or they are not able to find the kind of employment that they really desire — may feel left out of many of these things that other people go through, such as being somewhere in the morning, going for meetings, or having bosses you can complain about to your friends."
She also highlighted that feelings of stress, guilt, shame and embarrassment are common for people who have been retrenched, especially when it comes to telling others that they have been laid off.
Read Also
lifestyle
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]Mental health enigma: AsiaOne study reveals people's tendencies to urge others to seek help, but not themselveshttps://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/m...-peoples-tendencies-urge-others-seek-help-not
"There seems to be some negative connotations that they think society or people in general will feel if they were the ones that were asked to leave the company," said Sara.
Aside from self-esteem, financial stress is another major concern for the unemployed.
"If you have a family, you have a house, you have a car, all these other liabilities, it will definitely affect your mood in terms of how you feel. So people may start to feel a little bit sad, a little bit depressed, quite down," said Sara.
She went on to explain how the absence of financial stability can affect a person's overall mindset and daily functioning.
"Work also brings about financial freedom, in some sense, it might also limit other things that you do. For example, if you are worried about having enough money to get by, you probably may not be in the mood to think about things like hobbies or enjoyment."
Even the process of job hunting can take a toll on mental health, and activities like sending emails, submitting applications and waiting for responses often add to the pressure.
"We might get a higher rate of people endorsing some symptoms of anxiety, especially if they're trying to apply for jobs," said Sara.
"It might affect things like sleep and appetite as well, because if let's say, you never hear back from any of them, then you might not sleep very well, because you could be in a state of panic and worry."
This in turn could lead to overall lethargy, chronic health problems and being more at risk of having lower immunity.
If you're unemployed and struggling, Sara advises you to not give up and keep trying.
"Send out as many resumes as you need, go and meet people if you can, even though it's difficult and even though you might find that it's challenging. Because they need the hope and opportunities in order to finally be able to secure the employment that they truly desire," she said.
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]SINGAPORE HELPLINES[/COLOR]
- Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444
- Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
- Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
- Institute of Mental Health's national mindline: 1771 (24 hours)/ 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
- Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928
- We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
singapore
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]Over 280 applications, 0 offers: Fresh grad's year-long job hunt highlights new jobseeker woes[/COLOR]
[email protected]
For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.[/COLOR]
mental healthjobsCareersEmployment/Unemployment
[COLOR=rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.73)]Now playing:[/COLOR]
Inside Singapore's amateur football: The final showdown | Saturday Nights Live
Watch More Videos[/COLOR]
lifestyle
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]Master's student and fitness instructor Annika Xue Sager crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2025[/COLOR]
From left to right: Alexis Kaur, Annika Xue Sager and Inez Chen.
PHOTO: Miss Universe Singapore
PHOTO: Miss Universe Singapore
This year's Miss Universe 2025 competition had a total of 15 finalists who have their own unique stories, such as an entrepreneur who began designing maternity bras at just 13 to a woman living with a rare skin condition.
Out of all the lot, Annika Xue Sager was crowned the winner during the finale held at Amber Lounge, The Clifford Pier, Fullerton Bay Hotel, shared a press release on Monday (Oct 6).
The 25-year-old master's student, fitness instructor and model will be representing Singapore on the global stage at the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand this November.
Annika also became the first to wear the newly unveiled Lumina Orchid crown, designed by NJS Gold, in celebration of SG60.
"My journey back to Singapore after studying abroad has been deeply meaningful. It gave me the chance to reconnect with the country where I was born, yet never had the opportunity to truly grow up in because of my international upbringing," Annika said.
"I may not sound like a typical Singaporean, nor look like one, but I know I embody the evolving face of Singapore — resilient, determined, and future-focused."
The first runner-up was 19-year-old Inez Chen, a business management undergraduate, and the second runner-up is Alexis Kaur, 24, an IVF specialist nurse.
As the winner, Annika will win a $10,000 cash prize, a Smile MakeOver from Orchard Scotts Dental worth $20,000, an eight-carat gold bracelet from NJS Gold, as well as six months of Absolute Fitness training
The first runner-up, Inez, will win a $3,000 cash prize, an eight-carat gold ring from NJS Gold, and one month unlimited Absolute Fitness and The Reformer Society classes
And the second runner-up, Alexis will win a $2,000 cash prize, an eight-Carat Gold Ring from NJS Gold, and one month unlimited Absolute Fitness and The Reformer Society classes.
The three winners will also secure talent management representation with Basic Models Singapore.
Additional subsidiary titles were awarded as well, such as Miss Congeniality, which went to social media strategist Tiffany Tay, 28, Miss Body Beautiful, which went to Annika, and Miss Fan Favourite by Zetrix, which too went to Annika.
"Tonight, we not only crowned a new queen but also celebrated Singapore's 60th year of independence with the debut of the Lumina Orchid crown," said national director of Miss Universe Singapore, Elaine Daly.
"This win is about more than beauty; it is about resilience, purpose, and a woman's ability to inspire change. Annika will carry Singapore's voice onto the Miss Universe stage, and I could not be prouder of the woman she has become."
Read Also
lifestyle
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)]26-year-old wins Miss Universe Singapore 2024, transgender beauty queen makes top 5https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/2...n-makes-top-5-charlotte-chia-qatrisha-zairyah
[email protected]
For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.
Miss UniverseawardsBeauty pageantsCompetitionWomen[/COLOR]
READ FULL ARTICLE
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Available onGOOGLE PLAY
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