Singapore women lead labour force participation boost

Uptick in female employment offset decrease in males.

The resident labour force participation rate (LFPR) trended up over the last five years, the Ministry of Mapower (MoM) revealed. Although the LFPR declined slightly in 2016 at 68% after a sharp increase at 68.3%, the ministry said it has seen a rise in female participation.

"The unemployment rate had been broadly stable from 2012 to 2015, in the range of 2.6% to 2.9%, as the increase for males was balanced by the decline for females," MoM said

However, unemployment rates rose from 2015 to 2016 amid the weaker economic environment.

"Consequently, over the same period, the overall resident unemployment rate rose from 2.8% to 3.0%," the ministry revealed

The increase in female employment rate offset the decline in male employment, which stabilize overall employment rate at 80.3%.