Real and Nominal Wage Growth for Singaporeans in Each Decile for Last 10 Years

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Manpower what was the real and nominal wage growth for Singaporeans in each income decile for each of the last 10 years.

Mr Lim Swee Say: The Ministry of Manpower monitors the wage outcome of the workforce by tracking income trends at the 20th percentile 10 (low-wage workers) and 50th percentile (general workers). The annual change in nominal and real 11 gross monthly income (including employer CPF contributions) by the 20th and 50th percentile for Full-Time Employed 12 Singaporeans, from 2007 to 2016, is provided in Table 1.

Table 1 Annual Change (%) in Gross Monthly Income from Work 13 (including Employer CPF contributions) of Full-Time Employed Singaporeans, June 2007-2016

Note(s) to Question No(s) 13:

10 It should be noted that due to greater churn among workers at the lower end of the income spectrum, income changes for the 20th percentile tend to be volatile on a year-on-year basis.

11 Deflated by Consumer Price Index for all items at 2014 prices (2014=100).

12 Full-time employment refers to employment where the normal hours of work are 35 hours or more in a week.

13 Gross monthly income refers to income earned from employment. For employees, it refers to the gross monthly wages or salaries before deduction of employee CPF contributions and personal income tax. It comprises basic wages, overtime pay, commissions, tips, other allowances and one-twelfth of annual bonuses. For self-employed persons, gross monthly income refers to the average monthly profits from their business, trade or profession (i.e. total receipts less business expenses incurred) before deduction of income tax.