Singapore Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Singapore's services employment was 85.91% in 2025, ranked 178th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Singapore's services employment stood at 85.91% in 2025, a rise of +0.17% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 86.10% by 2026. Singapore ranked 178th globally.
Singapore’s services sector has been the dominant force in its labor market for decades, with employment in the sector rising from 64.58 percent in 1991 to 85.91 percent in 2025, reflecting the country’s deep structural shift toward a knowledge- and service-based economy. The all-time peak of 86.08 percent was reached in 2023, underscoring the sector’s sustained expansion even amid global economic volatility. This trajectory aligns with regional peers such as Hong Kong SAR, China, where services employment stood at 85.80 percent, indicating a shared post-industrial economic model in high-income Asian economies. Over the 35-year coverage period, manufacturing and agriculture have steadily declined in relative importance, while finance, business services, and tourism-related industries have grown. The continued dominance of services employment is expected to persist, supported by government policies promoting innovation and global connectivity. However, the trend could face pressure from automation, demographic constraints, or a strategic pivot toward advanced manufacturing or digital trade, which might alter labor demand in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 86.36% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 86.23% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 86.10% | - | - |
| 2025 | 85.91% | +0.17% | #178 |
| 2024 | 85.74% | −0.34% | #178 |
| 2023 | 86.08% | +0.73% | #180 |
| 2022 | 85.34% | −0.10% | #181 |
| 2021 | 85.45% | +0.38% | #182 |
| 2020 | 85.06% | +0.14% | #182 |
| 2019 | 84.92% | +1.08% | #182 |
| 2018 | 83.85% | −0.15% | #181 |
| 2017 | 84.00% | +0.28% | #181 |
| 2016 | 83.72% | +1.14% | #181 |
| 2015 | 82.59% | +0.30% | #179 |
| 2014 | 82.29% | +2.10% | #180 |
| 2013 | 80.19% | +0.69% | #175 |
| 2012 | 79.50% | +0.37% | #174 |
| 2011 | 79.13% | +0.99% | #174 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Singapore matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Singapore's services employment was 85.91% in 2025. Ranked 178th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Singapore's services employment peaked at 86.08% in 2023.
The lowest services employment in Singapore was 64.58% in 1991.
Singapore ranks 178th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Singapore's services employment is projected to reach 86.10% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Singapore in 2025 was 85.91%. This ranks 178th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_singapore_services-employment,
title = {Singapore Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/singapore/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}