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Labour Force

Labour force data are based on the mid-year Labour Force Surveys conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) every year except for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 which are based on the Censuses of Population and the mid-decade General Household Surveys conducted by the Singapore Department of Statistics. The data refer to persons aged fifteen years and over. The reference period refers to the week preceding the date of interview.

Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications

The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) is a national credential system that trains, develops, assesses and certifies skills and competencies for the workforce. The WSQ programmes are funded and quality-assured by SkillsFuture Singapore, which awards the WSQ certifications.

Employment Assistance

Singapore citizens and permanent residents may seek employment assistance through physical and digital touch points of Workforce Singapore (WSG) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). Statistics on job seekers assisted and placed into employment are compiled by WSG.

Multifactor Productivity

Multifactor productivity (MFP) relates output to a set of combined inputs, usually labour and capital. A change in MFP reflects the change in output that cannot be accounted for by the change in combined inputs. MFP therefore measures the effects of changes such as technological progress and changes in the organisation of production.

Central Provident Fund

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a key pillar of Singapore's social security system. It enables Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to set aside funds to build a strong foundation for retirement, and also addresses members’ housing and healthcare needs.

 

Data

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Key Indicators
Items Unit Latest Period Latest Data % Change
(Y-o-Y) 1/		 Previous
Period Data		 % Change
(Y-o-Y) 2/
Labour, Employment, Wages and Productivity            
Employment Level (quarterly) 3/ '000 Sep-24 4,034.4 1.2 4,009.5 1.3
Employment Change (quarterly) 3/ '000 Sep-24 24.8 na 29.2 na
Unemployment (seasonally adjusted) (quarterly) % of labour force Sep-24 1.9 na 2.0 na
Value Added per Worker Growth  % 3Q 2024 4.1 na 1.6 na
Total Labour Force 4/ '000  2023 3,936.3 na 3,754.2 na
Resident Labour Force 5/ '000  2023 2,436.2 na 2,438.0 na
Items Unit Latest Period Latest Data % Change
(Y-o-Y) 1/		 Previous
Period Data		 % Change
(Y-o-Y) 2/
Employed Persons 4/ '000  2023 3,840.3 na

3,656.2

 na
Employed Residents 5/ '000  2023 2,352.3 na 2,350.4 na
Unemployment Rate (seasonally adjusted) 4/ % 2023 1.9 na 2.1 na
Resident Unemployment Rate (seasonally adjusted) 5/ % 2023 2.7 na 2.8 na
Labour Force Participation Rate 5/6/ % 2024 68.2 na 68.6 na
Males % 2024 74 na 74.9 na
Females % 2024 62.8 na 62.6 na
Annual Growth in Value Added per Worker % 2023 -3.6 na -0.9 na

Data are preliminary when first released.
na not available or not applicable.
1 Refers to % change in latest period over the same period in the previous year.
2 Refers to % change in the previous period over the same period in the previous year.
3 Includes Migrant Domestic Workers.
4 Refers to total persons aged 15 years and over. Data are for mid-year.
5 Refers to Singapore residents (citizens and permanent residents) aged 15 years and over. Data are for mid-year.
6 Refers to % of Population aged 15 & over.

Employment

Title : Employed Residents Aged 15 Years And Over By Industry And Occupation, (June), Annual

Thousand

Data Items

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

All Occupation Groups, (Total Employed Residents)

2,165.3
2,175.3
2,203.7
2,230.4
2,222.6
2,286.5
2,350.4
2,352.3

Manufacturing

227.2
223.4
227.8
214.4
213
212.1
224.9
212

Construction

101.2
100.7
104.4
98
97.2
98.4
97.7
94.3

Services

1,816.9
1,829.4
1,849.9
1,894.5
1,891.3
1,952.6
2,006
2,024.8

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

20
21.7
21.6
23.5
21.2
23.4
21.9
21.3

Managers & Administrators (Including Working Proprietors)

337.5
348.8
341.6
364.9
368.3
377.7
407.7
369.9

Manufacturing

39.3
42.7
38.4
40.4
37
39.4
44
36.8

Construction

25
23.8
23.6
25.1
20.4
24.3
23.6
20.2

Services

270.4
279.4
277.6
295.9
308.3
311
337.2
309.7

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

2.7
2.8
2
3.5
2.6
2.9
2.9
3.1

Professionals

419.8
437.6
449.2
469.4
504.2
577.5
600.9
620.6

Manufacturing

47.7
41.8
46.9
45.1
51.1
52.6
59.7
56.1

Construction

9.8
11.8
13.3
11.7
17.2
15.8
16.9
18.5

Services

358.3
379.4
384.5
407.3
430.6
504
517.6
540.8

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

4
4.7
4.5
5.3
5.3
5.1
6.7
5.2

Associate Professionals & Technicians

438.1
436.2
465
467.9
458.2
465.8
485.7
482.5

Manufacturing

56.5
53.9
59.6
56
50.5
52
54.9
50.9

Construction

16.7
17
20
18.7
20.3
20.2
19.5
20.3

Services

359.8
359.3
378.9
386.8
381.6
387.3
405.9
405.5

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

5
5.9
6.5
6.3
5.7
6.3
5.4
5.7

Clerical Support Workers

244.9
247.9
241
237.2
215.6
223.4
211.8
207.8

Manufacturing

21.7
24.6
23.7
21.5
21.5
17.8
17.9
20.7

Construction

13.3
14.3
13.8
11.8
11.9
13.1
11.8
11

Services

208
206.9
201.8
201.2
180.5
190.6
180.5
175

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

1.9
2.1
1.7
2.7
1.8
1.9
1.6
1.2

Service & Sales Workers

262.4
248
262.7
257.7
252.3
239.2
241.2
257.9

Manufacturing

5.6
6.2
5.6
6.5
6.9
8.3
7.3
8.4

Construction

1
1
1.3
1.1
1.5
1.7
1.1
1.4

Services

255.4
240.4
255.6
249.5
243.4
228.3
232
247.4

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.6
0.5
0.9
0.7
0.7

Craftsmen & Related Trades Workers

79.2
76
70
67.8
62.5
57.9
53.3
58.8

Manufacturing

23.5
23.4
21.9
19.4
18.2
16.3
15.6
15.9

Construction

21.3
18.9
18.6
16.7
16.1
14
14
14.3

Services

33.2
32.4
28.4
31
26.8
26.3
23.2
27.6

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

1.1
1.2
1.1
0.7
1.4
1.3
0.6
1

Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers

151.1
151.5
147.9
151.4
151.7
137
135.7
132

Manufacturing

22.9
21.4
22.1
17.3
16.4
15.6
14.5
11.8

Construction

7.7
7.6
7.5
7
4.9
4.9
5.8
4.2

Services

118.9
121.3
117.1
125.7
128.7
115.2
114.1
115

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

1.6
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.8
1.3
1.3
1

Cleaners, Labourers & Related Workers

160.7
160.5
156.4
149.4
149.5
151.5
158.4
162.1

Manufacturing

9.8
9.2
9.5
8.1
11.3
10
11.1
11.2

Construction

6.1
6.2
6.1
5.9
4.9
4.3
4.7
4.3

Services

142.1
142.2
137.8
133.4
131.4
134.3
140.3
143.9

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

2.8
3
3
2
1.9
2.8
2.3
2.7

Other Occupation Groups Nes * Includes agricultural and fishery workers and workers not classifiable by occupation.

71.6
68.9
69.8
64.8
60.4
56.5
55.8
60.7

Manufacturing

0.1
0.1
0.1
-
0.1
0.1
Na
Na

Construction

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.3
Na

Services

70.8
68.1
68.4
63.7
59.9
55.6
55.1
60

Other Industries Nes * Data includes agriculture, fishing, quarrying, utilities, sewerage and waste management.

0.5
0.6
1.2
0.9
0.3
0.8
0.5
0.7
SOURCE : MINISTRY OF MANPOWER & SINGAPORE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS
Footnotes

Residents comprise Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Based on mid-year Labour Force Survey except for Census of Population 1990 & 2000 and General Household Surveys 1995 & 2005. To facilitate comparison with 2008, 2007 Labour Force Survey data have been adjusted based on Singapore Department of Statistics revised population estimates (released in February 2008) which exclude Singapore residents who have been away from Singapore for a continuous period of 12 months or longer. Data from year 2020 are classified based on Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) 2020 and Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) 2020. Data from 2000 onwards which were coded based on earlier versions of the SSIC and SSOC were mapped to SSIC 2020 and SSOC 2020 respectively as far as possible to facilitate data comparability. Occupational data are not available for 2006 as the level of occupational detail collected in 2006 did not support mapping. The level of occupational detail collected in 1990 - 1999 did not support mapping to the latest SSOC 2020 and hence are not strictly comparable to data that were mapped to/coded using SSOC 2020. Data across the various years may not be strictly comparable due to revisions in the industrial classification. 1991-1994 & 1996-1997 data are based on SSIC 1990. 1998-1999 data are based on SSIC 1996. 1990 and 1995 data are based on SSIC 2005.

Employed Residents Aged 15 Years and Over By Industry and Occupation, (June), Annual
Employment Services (Year to Date), Monthly
Number of Full-Time Employed Residents By Sex, (June), Annual
Number of Part-Time Employed Residents By Sex, (June), Annual
Number of Employers By Sex, (June), Annual

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Sources of Data

Average Monthly Recruitment/Resignation Rate and Average Weekly Paid Hours Worked

Statistics on average monthly recruitment/resignation rate and average weekly paid hours worked are compiled from the Labour Market Survey. Prior to 2006, the survey covered private establishments with at least 25 employees. From 2006, the survey also includes the public sector comprising government ministries, organs of state and statutory boards.

Labour Relations

Statistics on Employers’ and Employees’ Trade Unions and Trade Disputes are compiled by MOM’s Labour Relations and Workplaces Division (LRWD). The LRWD monitors the industrial relations situation and provides mediation and conciliation services for the settlement of trade disputes. The Division also investigates complaints on infringements of the Employment Act which governs the terms and conditions of employment.

Statistics on Collective Agreements and Industrial Arbitration Court Awards are obtained from the Industrial Arbitration Court (IAC). The IAC was set up in 1960 under the Industrial Relations Act. Its functions include the registration and certification of collective agreements, hearing and determination of trade disputes and handing down of awards and interpretation and enforcement of terms of awards and collective agreements.

 

Definitions

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Other References

Manpower
Singapore Yearbook of Manpower Statistics View
Labour Force in Singapore View
Census of Population 2020 View
Labour Cost
Quarterly Unit Labour Cost Index by Industry View

External Sources

Manpower
Ministry of Manpower View
Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications
SkillsFuture Singapore View
Employment Assistance
Workforce Singapore View
Central Provident Fund matters
Central Provident Fund View