Singapore Q4 Jobless Rate Confirmed at 2%

Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 2% in Q4 2025, confirming preliminary estimates and unchanged from the previous period. Resident unemployment remained at 2.9%, while the unemployment rate for citizens was stable at 3%. Retrenchments stayed low, with 3,690 workers laid off during the quarter, equivalent to 1.5 retrenched per 1,000 employees. Total employment rose by 17,700 in Q4, moderating from 25,100 in Q3 but remaining above levels seen in H1 2025. Resident employment growth was concentrated in professional services, financial services, and health & social services, while non-resident gains were driven by construction and manufacturing. Seasonal hiring boosted jobs in administrative & support services and retail trade. For the full year, total employment expanded by 55,500, comprising 11,600 residents and 43,900 non-residents. In Q1 2026, the labour market is expected to expand, though firms remain cautious.

Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2% in Q4 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter, preliminary estimates showed. Resident unemployment remained at 2.9%, while the unemployment rate for citizens was also unchanged at 3%, keeping overall joblessness within the non-recessionary range. Retrenchments stayed low, with 3,600 workers laid off during the quarter, equivalent to 1.5 retrenched per 1,000 employees. The latest figures point to a resilient labour market, underpinned by continued economic growth. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 19,600 in Q4, moderating from an increase of 25,100 in Q3, but remaining well above levels seen in the H1 of 2025, when employment gains stood at 2,300 in Q1 and 10,400 in Q2. For the full year of 2025, the annual average unemployment rate was 2%, unchanged from the year before. Looking ahead to Q1 2026, the labour market is expected to expand, though firms remain cautious amid relatively tight conditions.

Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.0% in the third quarter of 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter and confirming preliminary estimates. Supported by ongoing economic growth, the labour market stayed resilient, with total employment rising at a faster pace while unemployment and retrenchments remained low. Total employment increased sharply during the quarter (25,100 vs 10,400 in Q2), driven by gains among both resident and non-resident workers. Growth in resident employment was led by the financial and insurance services and health and social services sectors, while non-resident employment expanded mainly in construction and manufacturing. Additionally, retrenchments remained low at 3,670 (1.6 retrenched per 1,000 employees), with reorganisation or restructuring continuing to be the main reason (at 61%). Looking ahead, employment and wage growth are expected to moderate.