Written Answer by Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo to PQ on median monthly income
NOTICE PAPER NO. 1717 OF 2019 FOR THE SITTING ON 8 JULY 2019
QUESTION NO. 1298 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
NMP: Assoc Prof Walter Theseira
To ask the Minister for Manpower in the last five years (a) what is the median monthly income of employed residents by marital status, gender, and age group; and (b) what is the median monthly income of employed residents by number of children, gender, and age group.
Answer
1. The breakdown of median gross monthly income of full-time employed residents by sex, age and marital status is provided in Table 1. Married males earned more than single males across all age groups, whereas single females aged 30 and above earned more than married females of the same age group. Among singles of the same age group, women earned more than men; while among those married of the same age group, men earned more than women.
2. Table 2 provides the breakdown of median gross monthly income of full-time employed female residents by age and the number of children given birth to. We do not collect such data for males. Among women aged 30 and above with children, those with two children tended to earn more than those with just one child or three or more children in the same age group. It is not straightforward to compare to those with no children as they include both single and married women.
3. Data alone cannot establish the causal impact on income of marital status and number of children; as these factors can themselves be influenced by income and education levels. There are also generational differences, for example, in age of marriage, rates of divorce, and the division of caregiving and household responsibilities between married couples. Finally, the data does not account for differences in occupations between men and women, and in preferences for part-time work, which could also affect incomes.
Table 1: Median Gross Monthly Income From Work (Including Employer CPF) of Full-Time Employed Residents by Sex, Age and Marital Status, June
Dollars
|
2013 |
2018 |
| Total^ |
Single |
Married |
Total^ |
Single |
Married |
| Male |
Below 30 |
2,900 |
2,800 |
3,700 |
3,500 |
3,300 |
4,100 |
| 30 - 39 |
5,100 |
4,100 |
5,700 |
5,700 |
4,700 |
6,300 |
| 40 - 49 |
5,000 |
3,500 |
5,300 |
6,400 |
4,400 |
6,900 |
| 50 - 59 |
3,300 |
2,000 |
3,500 |
4,200 |
2,700 |
4,500 |
| 60 & Over |
2,100 |
1,400 |
2,200 |
2,500 |
1,900 |
2,600 |
| Female |
Below 30 |
2,900 |
2,900 |
3,400 |
3,500 |
3,500 |
3,800 |
| 30 - 39 |
4,400 |
4,600 |
4,400 |
5,100 |
5,100 |
5,100 |
| 40 - 49 |
3,800 |
4,400 |
3,800 |
5,300 |
6,200 |
5,300 |
| 50 - 59 |
2,800 |
3,500 |
2,800 |
3,500 |
4,200 |
3,300 |
| 60 & Over |
1,500 |
1,900 |
1,500 |
2,000 |
2,700 |
2,000 |
Source: Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, Manpower Research & Statistics Department, MOM
Table 2: Median Gross Monthly Income From Work (Including Employer CPF) of Full-Time Employed Female Residents by Age and Number of Children Given Birth to, June
| Dollars |
| |
2013 |
2018 |
| No Children |
1 Child |
2 Children |
3 or more
Children |
No Children |
1 Child |
2 Children |
3 or more
Children
|
| Below 30 |
3,000 |
2,900 |
2,500 |
s |
3,500 |
3,500 |
2,900 |
s |
| 30 - 39 |
4,600 |
4,400 |
4,400 |
3,500 |
5,200 |
4,900 |
5,200 |
4,600 |
| 40 - 49 |
4,100 |
3,800 |
3,900 |
3,500 |
6,100 |
5,000 |
5,300 |
4,500 |
| 50 - 59 |
3,300 |
3,000 |
2,800 |
2,300 |
4,000 |
3,300 |
3,500 |
2,800 |
| 60 & Over |
1,700 |
1,600 |
1,700 |
1,100 |
2,700 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
1,700 |
Source: Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, Manpower Research & Statistics Department, MOM
Notes:
1. ^Total includes data for those who are widowed, divorced or separated, which are not reflected separately.
2. Residents refer to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
3. Data excludes Full-Time National Servicemen and Part-timers.
4. Full-time employment refers to employment where the normal hours of work is 35 hours or more in a week.
5. 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.
6. As data are captured from a sample survey, year-on-year income changes are prone to fluctuations and hence should always be interpreted with caution. Income growth studied over longer periods (e.g. 5 or 10 years) smooths out these fluctuations and hence provides a more direct indication of income growth.
7. 's' : Data have been suppressed due to small number covered.