Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.0% in Q2 2026, holding steady at 2.0% for the fifth straight quarter, preliminary estimates showed. The resident unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9%, while the citizen unemployment rate edged lower to 3.0% from 3.1%. Retrenchments rose to 4,500 in Q2 from 3,830 workers in Q1, marking the highest number since Q4 2020, bringing the incidence of retrenchment up from 1.6 to 1.9 per 1,000 employees. The increase was concentrated in some outward-oriented sectors, such as information and communication, mainly due to business restructuring. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 10,700 in Q2 2026, up from 9,400 in Q1, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth since Q4 2021. Overall employment growth was largely driven by foreign employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Looking ahead, labour market conditions are expected to remain resilient, although firms remain cautious amid economic uncertainty. source: Ministry of Manpower Singapore

Unemployment Rate in Singapore remained unchanged at 2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Singapore averaged 2.40 percent from 1986 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6.00 percent in the first quarter of 1986 and a record low of 1.40 percent in the second quarter of 1990. This page 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. Singapore Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Singapore remained unchanged at 2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Singapore is expected to be 2.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Singapore Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 1.90 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-15 08:00 AM
Unemployment Rate Final
Q1 2.0% 2% 2.1% 2.1%
2026-07-31 02:30 AM
Unemployment Rate Prel
Q2 2% 2.0% 2.10%
2026-09-17 02:30 AM
Unemployment Rate Final
Q2 2.0% 2% 2.0%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 43.10 43.30 Hours Dec 2025
Employed Persons 4117.00 4046.20 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Change 13.00 20.80 Thousands Person Mar 2026
Job Vacancies 75200.00 75700.00 Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 67.90 68.20 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 127.20 121.20 points Mar 2026
Population 6.11 6.04 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 127.20 121.20 points Mar 2026
Retirement Age Men 64.00 63.00 Years Jul 2026
Retirement Age Women 64.00 63.00 Years Jul 2026
Unemployed Persons 80.00 80.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.00 2.00 percent Jun 2026
Wages 6593.00 6442.00 SGD/Month Mar 2026


Singapore Unemployment Rate
In Singapore, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.00 2.00 6.00 1.40 1986 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
Singapore Q2 Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 2.0%
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.0% in Q2 2026, holding steady at 2.0% for the fifth straight quarter, preliminary estimates showed. The resident unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9%, while the citizen unemployment rate edged lower to 3.0% from 3.1%. Retrenchments rose to 4,500 in Q2 from 3,830 workers in Q1, marking the highest number since Q4 2020, bringing the incidence of retrenchment up from 1.6 to 1.9 per 1,000 employees. The increase was concentrated in some outward-oriented sectors, such as information and communication, mainly due to business restructuring. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 10,700 in Q2 2026, up from 9,400 in Q1, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth since Q4 2021. Overall employment growth was largely driven by foreign employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Looking ahead, labour market conditions are expected to remain resilient, although firms remain cautious amid economic uncertainty.
2026-07-31
Singapore Q1 Jobless Rate Revised Lower
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was revised lower to 2.0% in the first quarter of 2026 from 2.1% in the preliminary estimates, holding steady at 2.0% for five consecutive quarters. The resident unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9%, while the citizen unemployment rate edged higher to 3.1% from 3.0%. Retrenchments remained low at 3,830 workers, a slight increase from 3,690 in Q4, equivalent to 1.5 per 1,000 employees. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 9,400 in Q1 2026, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of growth since 4Q 2021. Resident job growth was led by administrative & support services and transportation & storage, while non-resident employment growth was supported by construction and manufacturing. Looking ahead, labour market conditions are expected to remain resilient, although firms may adopt a more cautious approach in hiring and wage increases amid heightened global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
2026-06-15
Singapore Jobless Rate Hits 2-Year High
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026, after holding steady at 2% for four consecutive quarters, according to preliminary estimates. It marked the highest level since Q1 2024, with the resident unemployment rate remaining unchanged at 2.9%, while the citizen unemployment rate ticked higher to 3.1% from 3%. Retrenchments remained stable at 3,700 workers, broadly unchanged from 3,690 in the previous quarter, or 1.5 per 1,000 employees. Meanwhile, total employment grew by 5,000 in Q1 2026, stronger than 2,300 from a year earlier but well below the 17,700 increase in Q4 2025. Resident job growth was led by transportation and storage, and administrative and support services, while non-resident employment gains were led by construction. Looking ahead, the labour market is expected to remain tight and expand, but firms are likely to stay cautious on hiring and wages amid ongoing uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
2026-04-30