Singapore Unemployment Rate

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.