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Employment growth picked up, retrenchments stayed low, and job vacancies remained above the number of jobseekers.
The Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market Report for the second quarter of 2025 shows that Singapore’s labour market remained resilient, in line with continued economic expansion.
Total employment rose by 10,400 in Q2 2025, improving from the muted gains in Q1 2025.
Resident employment expanded in growth sectors such as Health & Social Sciences, while some outward-oriented sectors, including Professional Services and Information & Communications, showed early signs of softening.
Non-resident employment growth was mainly driven by Work Permit holders in roles such as construction labourers, bus and truck drivers.
Unemployment rates
Unemployment rates stayed low in June 2025:
- Overall: 2.0%
- Resident: 2.8%
- Citizen: 2.9%
- Resident long-term unemployment remained stable at 0.9%.
Job vacancies
The number of job vacancies eased slightly, from 81,100 in March 2025 to 76,900 in June 2025. The job vacancy rate also decreased from 3.2% to 2.9%. Despite this decline, there were still more vacancies than jobseekers, with the ratio standing at 1.35.
Retrenchments and re-entry rates
Retrenchments remained low at 1.4 per 1,000 employees, with 3,540 employees retrenched in Q2 2025, a slight decrease from 3,590 in Q2 2025. The resident re-entry rate into employment within six months post-retrenchment fell slightly from 60.6% in Q1 2025 to 56.3% in Q2 2025, mainly affecting non-PMETs. Employees placed on short working week or temporary layoff remained low at 620 in Q2 2025.
Labour market assessment and outlook
In August 2025, the Ministry of Trade (MTI) upgraded Singapore’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 0.0%–2.0% to 1.5%–2.5%. Looking ahead, GDP growth is expected to slow in the second half of the year. Global uncertainties are likely to weigh on hiring and wages, particularly in outward-oriented sectors.
Despite this, the labour market is expected to remain resilient. Surveyed firms indicated they may manage slower growth by limiting new hires, using short working week arrangements, and moderating wage increases. Retrenchment intentions remain low but have edged up slightly.
Lead image / MOM Facebook
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