Singapore - Unemployment Rate

The dataset provides the information on the number of people constituting labor force, employed labor force and unemployment rate in Singapore. It also includes information on resident labor force, median age, educational composition, labor force participation rate, employment distribution by sector such as manufacturing, construction, services & others, employment change, resident unemployment rate, unemployed residents and resident long-term unemployment over a given period of time. Labor force refers to persons aged fifteen years and over who are either employed (i.e. working) or unemployed (i.e. available and actively looking for work) during the reference period. This group is also known as the economically active population.

Employed persons refer to persons who, during the reference period:

• Worked for one hour or more either for pay, profit or family gains or
• Had a job or business to return to but are temporarily absent because of illness, injury, breakdown of machinery at workplace, labor management dispute or other reasons.

Unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons to economically active persons.

Educational attainment refers to the highest level or standard which a person has passed or attained either through attendance at an institution of learning or through correspondence or self-study and helps in determining educational composition.

Employment change refers to the difference in the employment level at the end of the reference period compared with the end of the preceding period.

Long-term unemployed persons refer to persons aged fifteen years and over who have been unemployed for 25 weeks or more.

Long-term unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of long-term unemployed persons to economically active persons.

The survey for labor force covers private households on the main island of Singapore. It excludes workers living in construction worksites, dormitories and workers' quarters at the workplace and persons commuting from abroad to work in Singapore. Estimates of the total labor force are derived by combining data on residents (also known as locals) obtained from the survey with foreign workforce data compiled from administrative records.

The employment data comprises all persons in employment, i.e. employees and the self–employed. However, it excludes males who are serving their 2-year full-time national service liability in the Singapore Armed Forces, Police and Civil Defense Forces.

Data on the number of local employees are compiled from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board's administrative records of active contributors defined as local employees who have at least one CPF contribution paid for him/her. A local employee is any Singapore citizen or permanent resident who is employed by an employer under a contract of service or other agreement entered into in Singapore.

Data on foreigners working in Singapore are compiled from the stock of foreigners on valid work passes issued by the Ministry of Manpower.

The number of self-employed persons is estimated from the Labor Force Survey. The self-employed comprise persons aged 15 years and over who performed some work for profit or family gain, in cash or in kind.

The data may be subject to changes.

Residents refer to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.