Singapore Unemployment Rate Final

Latest figures

The latest release for Q2, published on 21 September 2026, came in at 1.9%, below the consensus of 2%, down from 2.0% the time before.

A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the Singapore dollar and push bond yields up.

Over the last 7 releases it ranged from 1.9% to 2.0%, averaging 2.0%.

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

Full employment is part of most central banks' mandate. A falling unemployment rate means a tighter labour market, faster wage growth and more inflation pressure, which can keep the Monetary Authority of Singapore hawkish; a rising rate is one of the clearest recession signals (the US "Sahm rule" flags a 0.5-point rise in the three-month average).

How it is calculated

the Department of Statistics (SingStat) usually runs a household survey: people are counted as unemployed if they had no work, were available and looked for a job recently. The rate is unemployed ÷ (employed + unemployed). Registered jobless and claimant counts instead count people signed on for benefits. Participation is the labour force ÷ working-age population.

Unemployment rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100
Labour force = employed + unemployed

What changes mean

• A lower rate than expected usually supports the Singapore dollar.
• Check participation: unemployment can fall because people stop looking, which is not good news.
• Broader measures (US U-6) include part-timers who want more hours.

A short history

Systematic unemployment statistics began in the 1930s Depression; the International Labour Organization's definition, adopted in 1982, is used by most countries today.

MAS steers the Singapore dollar's exchange rate rather than an interest rate.

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