3 in 5 S’poreans live paycheck to paycheck: report

More than a quarter also work multiple jobs.

Three in five workers in Singapore, or 60%, lived paycheck to paycheck in 2024, surpassing the APAC average of 48%, according to ADP’s People at Work 2025 report.

More than a quarter, or 26%, held multiple jobs to cover basic expenses, manage additional costs, or save for retirement. Some also cited the need to gain work experience or fund education and training as reasons for taking on extra work.

Others reported working multiple jobs to support dependents or due to a lack of available full-time employment, the report said.

“Nearly two-thirds of people who hold three jobs still struggle to make ends meet. This presents an opportunity for employers to take a more holistic approach to compensation to help workers navigate the higher living costs of today’s global economy,” Richardson Nela, chief economist at ADP, said.

ADP surveyed 38,000 workers across 34 markets worldwide.