Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 2.0% in Q3 2026, from 1.9% in the previous quarter, which was the lowest since Q4 2024, preliminary data showed. Total employment increased by 27,700 in Q3, compared with 11,400 in the previous quarter and 25,100 in the same period last year. Employment growth was led by non-residents, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Layoffs rose to 4,800 in Q3, the highest since Q4 2020, up from 4,620 in Q2. The increase was led by outward-oriented sectors, while business reorganisation continued to be the main driver of retrenchments. However, the retrenchment rate remained at 2.0 per 1,000. Looking ahead, more firms plan to hire, while wage-growth intentions have accelerated, although both remain below July levels, suggesting that employers remain cautious about hiring and wage increases amid continued uncertainty. source: Ministry of Manpower Singapore

Unemployment Rate in Singapore increased to 2 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 1.90 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Singapore averaged 2.40 percent from 1986 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6.00 percent in the first quarter of 1986 and a record low of 1.40 percent in the second quarter of 1990. This page provides the latest reported value for - Singapore Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Singapore Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Singapore increased to 2 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 1.90 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Singapore is expected to be 1.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Singapore Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 1.90 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-21 04:30 AM
Unemployment Rate Final
Q2 1.9% 2.0% 2% 2.0%
2026-10-30 02:30 AM
Unemployment Rate Prel
Q3 2% 1.9% 2.00%
2026-12-11 02:30 AM
Unemployment Rate Final
Q3 1.9% 2% 2.0%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 43.10 43.30 Hours Dec 2025
Employed Persons 4117.00 4046.20 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Change 32.00 14.70 Thousands Person Sep 2026
Job Vacancies 69900.00 75200.00 Jun 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 67.90 68.20 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 112.90 127.00 points Jun 2026
Population 6.11 6.04 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 112.90 127.00 points Jun 2026
Retirement Age Men 64.00 63.00 Years Jul 2026
Retirement Age Women 64.00 63.00 Years Jul 2026
Unemployed Persons 80.00 80.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.00 1.90 percent Sep 2026
Wages 6605.00 6593.00 SGD/Month Jun 2026


Singapore Unemployment Rate
In Singapore, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.00 1.90 6.00 1.40 1986 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
Singapore Jobless Rate Edges Up to 2% in Q3
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 2.0% in Q3 2026, from 1.9% in the previous quarter, which was the lowest since Q4 2024, preliminary data showed. Total employment increased by 27,700 in Q3, compared with 11,400 in the previous quarter and 25,100 in the same period last year. Employment growth was led by non-residents, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Layoffs rose to 4,800 in Q3, the highest since Q4 2020, up from 4,620 in Q2. The increase was led by outward-oriented sectors, while business reorganisation continued to be the main driver of retrenchments. However, the retrenchment rate remained at 2.0 per 1,000. Looking ahead, more firms plan to hire, while wage-growth intentions have accelerated, although both remain below July levels, suggesting that employers remain cautious about hiring and wage increases amid continued uncertainty
2026-10-30
Singapore Q2 Jobless Rate Revised Lower
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 1.9% in Q2 2026, slightly below the preliminary estimate of 2.0% and the lowest since Q4 2024, amid stronger economic growth. Yet labour conditions stayed uneven. Layoffs rose to 4,620, the highest since Q4 2020, up from 3,830 in Q1, led by outward-oriented sectors including manufacturing, communications and finance, with restructuring as the main driver. The retrenchment rate increased to 2.0 per 1,000 employees from 1.6 in Q1. Total employment growth accelerated (11,400 vs 9,400 in Q1), mainly driven by non-resident hires as resident gains slowed. Re-entry outcomes dipped, with 54.9% of retrenched residents returning to work versus 60.7% prior. Job vacancies fell (68,600 vs 73,300) and 76,200 in Q2 2025, though still outnumbered unemployed, at 1.48 per job seeker. Forward indicators were mixed: more firms plan to hire, but wage-growth intentions eased, both below February levels, due to caution over hiring and wage increases.
2026-09-21
Singapore Q2 Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 2.0%
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.0% in Q2 2026, holding steady at 2.0% for the fifth straight quarter, preliminary estimates showed. The resident unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9%, while the citizen unemployment rate edged lower to 3.0% from 3.1%. Retrenchments rose to 4,500 in Q2 from 3,830 workers in Q1, marking the highest number since Q4 2020, bringing the incidence of retrenchment up from 1.6 to 1.9 per 1,000 employees. The increase was concentrated in some outward-oriented sectors, such as information and communication, mainly due to business restructuring. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 10,700 in Q2 2026, up from 9,400 in Q1, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth since Q4 2021. Overall employment growth was largely driven by foreign employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Looking ahead, labour market conditions are expected to remain resilient, although firms remain cautious amid economic uncertainty.
2026-07-31