Employment rate among 'prime-age' residents dips

The employment rate among “prime-age” residents aged 25 to 54 fell slightly from 87.7 per cent in 2024 to 87.5 per cent in 2025.

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MOM said the decrease stems from the hiring slowdown in outward-oriented sectors like information and communications, wholesale trade, professional services, manufacturing, and financial and insurance services. These are some of the top sectors prime-age residents are employed in.

Mr Musa Fazal, chief policy and operating officer for advocacy and policy at Singapore Business Federation (SBF), said that while business confidence has dipped and the outlook remains cautious, SBF’s just-released annual survey showed that a sizeable number of businesses (26 per cent) said they plan to increase the number of employees over the next 12 months, with only a small fraction (11 per cent) planning to reduce the number of employees.

responsibilities may be fewer.

“For individuals at later career stages, additional considerations such as caregiving or schooling arrangements can make relocation more complex,” she said.

Another consideration is compensation, she noted, adding that it is not uncommon for companies to relocate roles overseas as part of a “cost-saving measure”, where employees being relocated are likely offered local packages.