1. The labour market continued to expand in 1Q 2025, but at a slower pace compared to 4Q 2024. Total employment growth eased to 2,400 (resident: 300; non-resident: 2,000) in 1Q 2025, down from 7,700 (resident: 1,400; non-resident: 6,300) in 4Q 2024.
   
   
2. Unemployment rates inched up in March 2025 (overall: 2.0%; resident: 2.9%; citizen: 3.1%), while the resident long-term unemployment rates rose slightly from 0.8% in December 2024 to 0.9% in March 2025, but the rates remained comparable to non-recessionary norms.
   
   
3. The number of job vacancies increased from 77,500 in December 2024 to 81,100 in March 2025, raising the job vacancy rate from 3.1% in December 2024 to 3.2% in March 2025.
   
   
4. Retrenchments declined slightly from 3,680 in 4Q 2024 to 3,590 in 1Q 2025. The incidence of retrenchment remained unchanged at 1.5 retrenched per 1,000 employees and well within non-recessionary norms (2014 to 2019 quarterly average of 1.7 per 1,000 employees).
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5. The near-term global economic outlook remains uncertain although Singapore’s external demand outlook has improved slightly given that major economies have taken steps to de-escalate global trade tensions. Against this backdrop, firms remain measured in their outlook for manpower planning.

​​​​​​For more key findings, please refer to the executive summary​ of the report.​​​