MONEY MASTER

Singapore’s lower- and middle-income households have seen  stronger real income growth than top earners over the past decade , according to the Ministry of Finance’s February 2026 paper on income growth and inequality. Key Findings (2015–2025) Household Income Growth (Real, Annualised) Second income decile:  +3.2% Top decile:  +0.3%   Bottom-tier households grew nearly 10 times faster than the top income group. Compared internationally: Singapore (bottom 20%): +3.1% UK (bottom 20%): +0.4% Higher than Finland over the same period Individual Wage Growth (Full-Time Workers) Bottom 10th percentile:  +2.6% annually Median worker:  +2.1% Top 10th percentile:  +1.3% Income gains were broad-based, but skewed toward lower earners. Labour Market Strength Resident unemployment (2025): 2.8% Below OECD average Retrenched workers finding same/higher wage jobs: 60% in 2024 (vs 52% in 2018) Re-entry rates (6–18 months): Above 79% from 2016–2024 Labour mobility and re-...

Quick Summary German unemployment crossed 3 million , the highest level in 12 years Jobless rate rose to 6.6% , highlighting weak labour momentum GDP grew 0.3% in Q4 , beating expectations despite trade turmoil Inflation ticked up in several states , keeping price pressures in focus What’s Happening in the Labour Market Germany’s unemployment climbed sharply at the start of the year, underscoring the  lagging impact of recent economic stagnation . Unemployed:   3.08 million  (+177,000 vs December) Unemployment rate:   6.6%  (seasonally unadjusted) Seasonally adjusted rate:   6.3% , unchanged Labour office head  Andrea Nahles  said momentum remains weak, with seasonal factors driving much of the rise. Economy Holds Up Better Than Expected Despite job market softness,  Germany’s economy showed resilience . Q4 GDP:   +0.3% q/q  (vs 0.2% expected) Annual growth:   +0.2% , confirming initial estimates The statistics office said the ...

  Key Takeaways Employment +10,400  in Q2, sharply higher than Q1’s +2,300. Unemployment steady at 2.0%  in June. Retrenchments stable  at 3,540, mainly from restructuring. MOM cautions of  slower hiring, moderated wage growth  ahead. Singapore’s labor market strengthened in the second quarter, expanding at a faster pace in line with robust economic growth. Total employment (excl. domestic workers) grew by  10,400 , above the ministry’s advance estimate of 8,400. Both resident and non-resident employment rose. Unemployment held at 2.0% , showing resilience. Retrenchments remained largely unchanged at  3,540 , driven mainly by corporate restructuring. Outlook The Ministry of Manpower warned that  global uncertainty may weigh on hiring and wages . Adjustments could come through slower job growth, moderated wage gains, and a modest uptick in retrenchments. Still, officials emphasized the labor market remains  “on a stable footing,”  wi...

The US labour market showed signs of a steady slowdown in October, with job openings increasing moderately and layoffs declining, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday. Job openings, a key indicator of labour demand, rose by 372,000 to 7.744 million at the end of October. However, the September figures were revised downward to 7.372 million from the initially reported 7.443 million. Economists polled by Reuters had anticipated 7.475 million vacancies. Labour Market Dynamics While job openings increased, hires dropped by 269,000 to 5.313 million, and layoffs fell by 169,000 to 1.633 million. These figures suggest a gradual cooling of the labour market rather than a sharp contraction. Hurricanes and strikes also impacted October’s labour market data. Rebuilding efforts in storm-affected regions and the resolution of strikes at Boeing and another aerospace company are expected to contribute to a ...

Key Takeaway: Australia’s labour market remains firm despite slower job growth in October, keeping the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on hold for rate cuts until mid-2025. Australia’s employment growth cooled in October after a strong period, though the jobless rate held steady at 4.1% and the labour market continued to show resilience. This stability suggests that interest rate cuts may not come before mid-2025 , with markets currently expecting a potential rate easing in May or July next year . The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 15,900 increase in net employment in October, lower than September's revised 61,300 rise and short of the 25,000 forecast. However, annual jobs growth held strong at 2.7% , and the participation rate slipped slightly to 67.1% from an all-time high of 67.2%. Labour Market Resilience Su-Lin Ong, RBC Capital Markets’ chief economist, noted that the data underscores a firm labour market that remains tight. She added that the RBA will likely...