Real wages grow 4.3% as median income reaches $5,775

Lower labour-force participation limits gains despite higher real wages

Real median gross monthly income for resident workers rose 4.3% in 2025 to $5,775, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MoM) advance release on Singapore’s labour-force trends.

This growth outpaced 2024’s increase as wages improved across key resident groups.

Real income at the 20th percentile increased 3.8% to $3,164, narrowing the gap with median earners and extending gains recorded over the past decade. The P20-to-P50 income ratio rose to 0.55 in 2025, up from 0.52 in 2020 and 0.51 in 2015.

The resident labour-force participation rate fell to 67.9% in 2025 from 68.2% in 2024, driven mainly by population ageing. Participation amongst residents aged 25–64 remained high, with female participation rising to 80.5% and male participation holding at 91.8%.

Unemployment and long-term unemployment rates stayed stable through the year, supporting real wage growth. MoM said income gains were supported by stable employment conditions and improvements in job quality across resident workers.

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