Factory workweeks hit 10-year low at 45.4 hours

Average paid hours in manufacturing fell from 49.2 in 2015.

Manufacturing employees in Singapore worked an average of 45.4 paid hours per week in 2025, the lowest level in the past decade, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Labour Market Survey.

Weekly paid hours declined from 49.2 hours in 2015, a drop of 3.8 hours over 10 years.

The workweek shortened gradually to 47.8 hours in 2019 from 49.2 hours in 2015, before falling further to 46.9 hours in 2020.

Average weekly paid hours rose briefly to 47.8 hours in 2021, before easing to 47.5 hours in 2022 and continuing its downward trend to 46.5 hours in 2023, 45.9 hours in 2024, and 45.4 hours in 2025.

Total average weekly paid hours also followed a downward trend, easing to 43.1 hours in 2025 from 45.6 hours in 2015.

The figures are from the MOM Labour Market Survey, compiled by the Manpower Research & Statistics Department.

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