Singapore employment up 47.4% at 47,400 in Q4 2021

Unemployment, meanwhile, dropped to 75,800 in December 2021.

Total employment for the Lion City saw a 47.4% increase, or 47,400, in 4Q 2021, in the latest report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MoM).

Compared to the previous quarter, a decline of 2,400 was felt.

The final quarter of the year saw also resident employment continue its growth, whilst non-resident employment saw growth for the first time in two years.

MoM singled out seasonal hiring as the reason for growth in the resident employment sector, with the food and beverage and retail trade sectors seeing growth. Information and communications, and financial services also saw a growth in resident employment due to a strong demand.

On the other hand, non-resident employment saw growth due to the construction sector. Entry approvals that took place in early November allowed for the sector to see considerable increase, following nearly a year’s worth of decline.

Growth was also seen across all industries in the quarter, with manufacturing, construction and services sectors seeing growth by 7,000, 15,800 and 23,900, respectively.

Following this positive trend in employment, unemployment, meanwhile, experienced a 0.1 percentage point decline for both overall and citizen unemployment rates at 2.4% and 3.4%, respectively.

Quarter-on-quarter, the number of unemployed residents dipped to 75,800 in December 2021.