A Singapore Government Agency Website

Official website links end with .gov.sg
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Sign In
Skip Navigation LinksLabour Market Statistics and Publications > Concepts > Duration of Unemployment Uses and Limitations
Duration of Unemployment Uses and Limitations
LABOUR SUPPLY
Switch topic
Unemployment Employment Job Vacancy Retrenchment Re-entry Into Employment Labour Turnover Labour Force Underemployment Income Hours Worked Employment Conditions Labour Relations Workplace Safety and Health Medical Benefits Labour Productivity Training and Higher Education

Uses and Limitations

The duration of unemployment is often used to gauge the level of difficulties faced by the unemployed in their job search, as well as their job expectations. A higher proportion of unemployed with longer duration of unemployment may either indicate increase in structural mismatch, insufficient jobs, and/or rising job expectations.