Singapore's overall unemployment rate in 2011 was 2% - a 14-year low.

According to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) Employment Situation 2011 report, the unemployment rate in December 2011 was at 2%, unchanged from the previous quarter.

Early estimates also indicate that total employment grew by 36,300 in Q4 2011. This brings employment growth for 2011 to 121,300, up from 115,900 in 2010.

MOM's report revealed that in 2011:

• total local employment grew by 36,600 (down from 56,200 in 2010)
• foreign employment grew by 79,800 (up from 54,400 in 2010)
• service jobs contributed most to employment gains, growing some 95,100 (down from 112,600 in 2010)
• construction employment grew by 22,200 (up from 3,400 in 2010)
• manufacturing employment expanded by 2,900
• 10,400 workers were laid off (up from 9,800 in 2010)

MOM also reported that the median income of Singaporeans in full-time employment increased by 6.3% to S$3,070 in June 2011. Taken cumulatively over the last 5 years, the median income of Singaporeans in full-time employment rose by 13% in real terms.