Singapore employment growth more than doubles in third quarter

The number of people with jobs surged in the third quarter of 2025, as employment growth picked up steam and retrenchment rates remained stable.

- Sharon Salim Business Correspondent

Singapore's total employment in the July to September period grew by 24,800, more than doubling from the increase of 10,400 in the second quarter, according to preliminary labour market data released on Oct 30.

Employment growth was stronger than anticipated, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), supported by a pickup in both resident - Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) - and nonresident employment.

“Employment growth is expected to remain positive but uneven across sectors moving forward, with slightly firmer hiring sentiment. Resident employment remained concentrated in sectors such as health and social services, and financial services,” said MOM.

“Nonetheless, global economic headwinds continued to impact outward-oriented sectors, resulting in subdued resident employment growth in information and communications, and professional services.”