Source
Primarily from administrative records. The self-employed component is estimated from the Labour Force Survey.
Coverage
The employment data comprises all persons in employment, i.e. employees and the self–employed. However, it excludes males who are serving their 2-year full-time national service liability in the Singapore Armed Forces, Police and Civil Defence Forces.
Data on the number of local employees are compiled from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board's administrative records of active contributors defined as local employees who have at least one CPF contribution paid for him/her. A local employee is any Singapore citizen or permanent resident who is employed by an employer under a contract of service or other agreement entered into in Singapore. Every local employee and his/her employer are required to make monthly contributions to the CPF which is a compulsory savings scheme to provide workers financial security in old age and helps meet the needs of healthcare, home-ownership, family protection and asset enhancement.
Data on foreigners working in Singapore are compiled from the stock of foreigners on valid work passes issued by the Ministry of Manpower. Foreigners can work in Singapore only if they have valid work passes issued by the Ministry of Manpower, upon application by their employers.
The number of self-employed persons is estimated from the Labour Force Survey. The self-employed comprises persons aged 15 years and over who performed some work for profit or family gain, in cash or in kind.
Concepts and Definitions
Employment Change
This refers to the difference in the employment level at the end of the reference period compared with the end of the preceding period.
Source
Comprehensive Labour Force Survey
Coverage
The survey covers private households on the main island of Singapore. It excludes workers living in construction worksites, dormitories and workers' quarters at the workplace and persons commuting from abroad to work in Singapore. Estimates of the total labour force are derived by combining data on residents (also known as locals) obtained from the survey with foreign workforce data compiled from administrative records.
Concepts and Definitions
Highest Qualification Attained
This refers to the highest level or standard which a person has passed or attained either through attendance at an institution of learning or through correspondence or self-study.
Reference Period
This refers to the week preceding the date of the survey interview.
Employed Persons
This refers to persons aged fifteen years and over who, during the reference period:
- Work for one hour or more either for pay, profit or family gains; or
- Have a job or business to return to but are temporarily absent because of illness, injury, breakdown of machinery at workplace, labour management dispute, or other reasons.
Members of the Singapore Armed Forces including full-time National Servicemen are included in the persons employed, unless otherwise specified.
Occupation
This refers to the type of work performed by a person, which may not necessarily be related to his training, skill or professional qualification. In the case of a person who performs two or more kinds of work, his occupation would refer to the one in which he spent the greatest part of his working time and/or from which he derived the greatest share of his income during the reference period.
Industry
This refers to the major kind of activity undertaken by the establishment, enterprise, firm or organisation in which the person worked during the reference period. It is related to the principal class of goods produced or services rendered by the organisation.
Employment Status
This refers to the position or status of an employed person in relation to other persons within the organisation for which he worked. Employed persons are divided into the following four categories:
- Employers: These are persons who employ at least one paid worker in their business or trade.
- Employees: These are persons who work for employers in return for regular wages or salaries.
- Own Account Workers: These are persons who operate their own business without employing any paid workers in the conduct of their business or trade.
- Contributing Family Workers: These are persons who assist in the operation of family business without receiving regular wages or salaries.
Employment Rate
This is defined as the percentage of employed persons to the population in the specific sex and age group.
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