Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2% in Q4 2025, confirming preliminary estimates and remaining unchanged from the previous quarter. The resident unemployment rate stayed at 2.9%, while the rate for citizens was stable at 3%.
Retrenchments remained low, with 3,690 workers laid off during the quarter, equivalent to 1.5 retrenched employees per 1,000 workers. Total employment increased by 17,700 in Q4—slower than the 25,100 gain in Q3, but still above the levels recorded in the first half of 2025.
Among residents, employment growth was led by professional services, financial services, and health & social services. For non-residents, gains were concentrated in construction and manufacturing. Seasonal hiring also lifted employment in administrative & support services and retail trade.
For the full year 2025, total employment rose by 55,500, comprising an increase of 11,600 residents and 43,900 non-residents. Looking ahead to Q1 2026, the labour market is expected to continue expanding, although firms are likely to remain cautious.
