Bold reality check: Singapore’s job market showed resilience in Q3, even as the outlook remains carefully guarded. The total number of employed people rose by 25,100 in the third quarter, driven by ongoing economic growth and surpassing the 10,400 net gain recorded in the previous quarter, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s latest quarterly release.
For Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, employment continued to climb, with notable strength in the financial and insurance services sector as well as in health and social services. Among non-residents, job gains were mainly concentrated in construction and manufacturing, the report shows.
Unemployment and retrenchments stayed at low levels during the quarter, underscoring underlying stability in the labor market. Yet the ministry cautions that, despite easing compared with the first half of 2025, overall uncertainty remains elevated and could temper labor demand going forward.
Looking ahead, business sentiment suggests firms will tread more cautiously on hiring and wage increases over the next three months. In other words, the momentum is real, but the winds of caution are not far behind, signaling a moderated pace for employment growth as economic conditions continue to evolve.
