Singapore added 10,400 jobs in the second quarter of 2025, a stronger showing than Q1, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported in its latest Labour Market update.
The growth was not evenly spread. Domestic-oriented industries led resident hiring. Health and Social Services continued to expand, and Financial and Insurance Services also added roles, pushing citizen and PR employment up by 2,600.
Foreign worker employment rose by 7,800. Most of that came from Work Permit holders filling construction and transport jobs — roles such as drivers and site labourers that MOM noted residents are less inclined to take.
At the same time, export-linked sectors showed early signs of cooling. Hiring slowed in professional services and information & communications, reflecting pressure from global economic uncertainty.
The overall unemployment rate in June stayed low at 2 per cent. Resident unemployment was 2.8 per cent and citizen unemployment 2.9 per cent. Long-term unemployment for residents remained stable at 0.9 per cent.
Vacancies dipped to 76,900 from 81,100 in March, but still exceeded jobseekers with a ratio of 1.35. Retrenchments were contained at 1.4 per 1,000 employees. MOM said it expects retrenchment intentions to rise only slightly, with adjustments more likely to come from moderated hiring and wage growth.
Looking ahead, the government has upgraded Singapore’s 2025 GDP forecast to 1.5 per cent–2.5 per cent. However, officials warned second-half growth could be slower.
To cushion workers, support measures are being scaled up. These include Career Conversion Programmes, Mid-Career Pathways, SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits, and new Graduate Industry Traineeships for fresh entrants.
MOM said the labour market should stay resilient, supported by domestic demand, even as outward-facing sectors navigate a tougher environment.
