Overview


The Labour Force Survey is an official national survey on the labour market involving numerous households in Singapore. The statistics and insights derived from the LFS will help to shape national manpower policies and programmes that affect many of us.

The Monthly Labour Force Survey is conducted throughout the year. Results are reported every quarter. A comprehensive version of the Survey is also conducted between April and August each year.

How to participate
Households selected for the LFS are strongly encouraged to complete the survey online via the secured Manpower Survey Online System. However, if they prefer to complete the survey through phone, they can call our hotline (6320 777) or email mom_rsd_lfs@mom.gov.sg to book an appointment with us.

MONTHLY LABOUR FORCE SURVEY


Sample Size

22,200 Households


Frequency

Monthly


Objective

To collect data on unemployment, which is one of the most closely monitored indicators of the Singapore labour market and economy.


Information Required

General Information

  1. How many persons are living at the selected address
  2. How many households* are formed from the number of people staying at the selected address.

*Households - A household is made up of persons who share common accommodation and food arrangements. A household may consist of only one person or many persons.
For example: Mr and Mrs Wong, their 2 children and maid are staying at the selected address. In this case, these 5 persons form 1 household.

  1. Name
  2. Relationship to head of household
  3. Age
  4. Sex
  5. Race
  6. Citizenship
  7. Residential status

  1. Marital status
  2. Highest academic qualification attained
  3. Workforce Qualification Skills attained
  4. Activity status

If you are employed, you need to answer questions in Section 2A.

If you are unemployed, you need to answer questions in Section 2B.

If you are not working and not looking for job and/or not available for work, you need to answer questions in Section 2C.

  1. Employment status
  2. Occupation
  3. Industry
  4. Name of company
  5. Full-time or part-time
  6. Gross monthly income
  7. Usual hours worked
  8. Extra hours
  9. Hours of absence
  10. Type of employment (Permanent or term contract)

  1. Willingness to work additional hours
  2. Availability for additional work

  1. Duration of unemployment (in weeks)
  2. Whether worked before
  3. Main reason for leaving last job

  1. Reason for being economically inactive (i.e. the reason for not working, not looking for job or not available for work).

COMPREHENSIVE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY


Sample Size

33,000 Households


Frequency

Yearly (April to August)


Objective

To collect key information on demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.


Information Required


  1. Name
  2. NRIC/Birth Certificate/FIN No.
  3. Relationship to head of household
  4. Date of birth
  5. Sex
  6. Race
  7. Place of birth
  8. Identification type
  9. Residential status
  10. Language and dialects spoken
  11. Language literacy
  12. Religion
  13. Marital status
  14. Number of children given birth to
  15. Highest qualification attained
  16. Major field of study
  17. Place of study
  18. Institution that awarded highest qualification
  19. Whether retired from any job
  20. Current labour force status

  1. Employment status
  2. Type of business
  3. Occupation
  4. Name of company
  5. Industry
  6. Working full-time or part-time
  7. Reason for working part-time
  8. Willingness to work additional hours
  9. Availability for additional work
  10. Whether actively sought additional hours of work
  11. Gross monthly income from work
  12. Months of bonus received
  13. Whether in continuous employment
  14. Number of jobs
  15. Usual hours worked
  16. Duration of work with current employer
  17. Type of employment
  18. Paid leave
  19. Paid sick leave
  20. Rest day each week
  21. Whether actively looking for new job

  1. Duration of unemployment
  2. Activity status while looking for a job
  3. Type of job looking for
  4. Step taken to look for job
  5. Type of difficulties encountered
  6. Ever worked before
  7. Last occupation
  8. Last industry
  9. Main reason for leaving last job
  10. When left last job

  1. Main reason for not working and not looking for job
  2. Ever worked before
  3. When left last job
  4. Last occupation
  5. Last industry
  6. Working full-time or part-time in last job
  7. Intention to look for job
  8. When intend to look for job
  9. Preference to work full-time or part-time

Other information

In addition to labour-related data, information such as income from non-work sources, mode of transport to work or school and other socio-economic data will be collected.