Unemployment Rate in Singapore remained unchanged at 2 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 2 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset 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.

The unemployment rate in Singapore raised to around 4.1 percent in 2020 from 3.1 percent in the year before. For many economies, this would be considered overemployment, but Singapore may have a lower natural unemployment rate than other economies.

What’s wrong with overemployment?

When there are not enough workers, firms are forced to hire anyone who is available. This means that employers may not select the best applicants but rather anyone who applies. This leads to lower productivity, because workers are not finding the job for which they are best suited. Companies may also have to offer wages that are so high that they also lead to a rise in prices and thus, to a higher inflation.

Singapore may be different

Singapore has a small, open economy. It has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the region, indicating that it is an advanced economy. This is largely due to the small population, which is almost entirely urban. As such, its workforce may be better matched to employer needs, which would reduce the natural level of unemployment.

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 4.050 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.870 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 3.090 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.660 % in 2008 and a record low of 0.960 % in 1997. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

The unemployment rate in Singapore stands at 2 percent according to the latest data from . That reading shows no change from the level of 2 percent in the previous quarter and an increase from the level of 1.9 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. The unemployment rate data in ...

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 3.430 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.660 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 2.340 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.430 % in 2015 and a record low of 0.670 % in 1997. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

Monthly and long-term Singapore Unemployment data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 3.040 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.470 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 5.750 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.100 % in 2006 and a record low of 2.470 % in 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

The number of employed people in Singapore was 4.02 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the number rose by 2.95 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. From 2024 to 2026, the number will increase by 60,000 people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 3.910 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.900 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 3.540 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.110 % in 2003 and a record low of 1.920 % in 1994. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

The unemployment rate in Singapour stands at 2 pour cent according to the latest data from . That reading shows no change from the level of 2 pour cent in the previous quarter and an increase from the level of 1.9 pour cent in the same quarter of the previous year. The unemployment rate data...

This dataset provides values for UNEMPLOYMENT RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 3.490 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.530 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 6.060 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.700 % in 2006 and a record low of 2.530 % in 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 4.280 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.250 % for 2013. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 4.100 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.500 % in 2003 and a record low of 2.110 % in 1994. Singapore SG: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

Key information about Singapore Unemployment Rate

• Singapore Unemployment Rate increased to 2.00% in Sep 2025, from the previously reported figure of 1.90% in Aug 2025.
• Singapore Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Mar 2020 to Sep 2025, with an average rate of 2.00%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 3.50% in Oct 2020 and a record low of 1.80% in Jul 2024.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Singapore Population reached 6.11 million people in Jun 2025.