Singaporean women earn 14.3% less than men

The median income difference between women and men working in Singapore was 14.3% last year, down from 16.3% in 2018, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s study.

Differences in occupation between men and women remained the key factor influencing the gender pay gap. Men are overrepresented in higher-paying occupations, according to a study examining the incomes of full-time employees aged 25 to 54, who are either Singaporean or permanent residents.

Women often receive lower pay than men, even when they share the same job title, work in the same industry, and have similar age and education levels.

In 2023, 75% of women were employed in professional, managerial, executive, and technician (PMET) roles, marking an 8.8 percentage point rise from 2018. Meanwhile, the proportion of men in PMET positions climbed by 6.3 percentage points, reaching 79.4% in 2023.