When it comes to salary comparisons, the gender pay gap or the income inequality between men and women has been a contentious issue.
According to the Labour Force in Singapore 2021 report, the median gross monthly income from work (including employer CPF) in Singapore is $5,197 for full-time employed residents, $5,070 for females and $5,460 for males. These figures seem to suggest that there is a gender pay gap in Singapore. Numbers don’t lie or do they?
Before the feminist supporters and detractors raise their pitchforks, let us dive deeper into MOM’s labour report and examine the statistics in detail.
Note: The term “gross monthly income from work (including employer CPF)” will be used interchangeably with the term “salary” as this is the income that we commonly understand as salary (including employee CPF).
Average Salary For Females Is Actually Higher Before 30 Years Old
The total average salary for females is lower than males (by 11%).
| Age ( Years ) | Female | Male |
| 15 – 19 | $1,901 | $960 |
| 20 – 24 | $3,291 | $2,691 |
| 25 – 29 | $4,706 | $4,563 |
| 30 – 34 | $5,796 | $5,850 |
| 35 – 39 | $6,143 | $7,387 |
| 40 – 44 | $6,435 | $7,776 |
| 45 – 49 | $6,084 | $7,664 |
| 50 – 54 | $5,324 | $6,338 |
| 55 – 59 | $3,990 | $4,843 |
| 60 & Over | $2,664 | $3,000 |
| Total | $5,070 | $5,460 |
Between 15 to 19 years old is the age group with the largest difference with females earning nearly 50% more than males. This figure is likely explained by the fact that males have to serve mandatory national service (whose income is not captured in the dataset).
Between 20 to 24 years old which is the age when most fresh graduates enter the workforce, females continue to earn 18% more than males. Most of this pay disparity is equalised in the next age group of 25 to 29 years old, where females earn about 3% more than males.
However, after the age of 30, the pay advantage favours males, peaking at close to 21% higher during the age of 45 to 49 years old.
Labour Force Participation For Female Is Much Lower After 35 Years Old
A possible reason for the difference is due to the labour force participation or the proportion of people who are working or looking for work.
In general, the labour force participation for females is almost 18 percentage-points lower than males. About 76% of males are working or looking for work compared to 58% of females.
However, before age 35, the labour force participation for both genders is not that dissimilar. In fact, between the ages of 25 to 29 years old which is the typical age range for fresh graduates to join the workforce or be in the early years of their careers, more females are actually working or looking for work.
| Age (Years ) | Total | Female | Male |
| 15 – 19 | 15.7 | 15.1 | 16.3 |
| 20 – 24 | 55.9 | 56.5 | 55.4 |
| 25 – 29 | 88.5 | 90.7 | 86.4 |
| 30 – 34 | 93.4 | 90.8 | 96.1 |
| 35 – 39 | 92.3 | 87.9 | 97.1 |
| 40 – 44 | 90.5 | 84.6 | 97.1 |
| 45 – 49 | 89.1 | 82.3 | 96.7 |
| 50 – 54 | 84.2 | 75.5 | 93.7 |
| 55 – 59 | 77.1 | 66.6 | 88.2 |
| 60 – 64 | 66.6 | 55.2 | 78.6 |
| 65 – 69 | 49.6 | 39.0 | 60.6 |
| 70 & Over | 20.9 | 14.9 | 28.5 |
| Total | 68.6 | 62.6 | 74.9 |
This coincides with the peak childbearing / childcaring ages for females in Singapore. According to SingStat, the highest fertility rates are for females aged 30 to 34 years old.
This suggests that once difference in labour force participation (and salary) is may be due to family planning and motherhood.
The Difference In Salary Is More Than 30% For Females With Degrees Or With Below Secondary Qualifications
One major reason for salary differences is because of qualifications. People tend to be paid better with better highest qualifications attained.
Males tend to earn more than females regardless of their highest qualifications attained. However, this difference widens significantly for those with a degree at 21% more.
| Age ( Years ) | Female | Male |
| Total | $5,070 | $5,460 |
| Below Secondary | $2,150 | $2,481 |
| Secondary | $3,247 | $3,441 |
| Post-Secondary (Non-Tertiary) | $3,086 | $3,486 |
| Diploma & Professional Qualification | $4,446 | $5,070 |
| Degree | $7,320 | $9,295 |
The Type Of Occupations That Females Tend To Work In Greatly Affect The Pay Difference
According to Singapore’s Adjusted Gender Pay Gap Report, occupation segregation by gender is a major factor in the gender pay gap.
This refers to the tendency of men and women to work in different occupations. Males are more likely to be working in higher-paying occupations while females tend to be in lower-paying occupations.
Males are more likely to be working as doctors, software developers and CEOs.
Females are more likely to be working in occupations that don’t pay as well, such as teachers, clerks, admin staff and managers, social service managers.
Females Work Fewer Hours On Average
Overall, females also worked fewer hours on average compared to males. For full-timers, males tend to work 2.4 hours longer than females. For part-timers, males tend to work 0.6 hours more than females.
| Total | Males | Females | |
| Full – Time | 44.5 | 45.3 | 43.5 |
| Part – Time | 21.0 | 21.4 | 2120.73 |
| Total | 41.9 | 43.4 | 40.3 |
Read Also: Average Salary Guide In Singapore: What You Need To Know Before Comparing Your Salary To Others
Preferences Matter When It Comes To Work And Income
The adjusted gender pay gap has narrowed from 8.8% in 2002 to 6.0% in 2018, according to Singapore’s Adjusted Gender Pay Gap Report. In the latest 2023 data, this has further narrowed to 6.0%.
Factors such as occupational differences remain as the key driving force of gender pay gap in Singapore.
It is also likely that many women do take a step back in their careers as they approach motherhood. This could affect their salary by either reducing their working hours or choosing a lower-paying position that gives more flexibility.
However, the tendency for women to end up working in occupations that pay less well is an area that is worth paying attention to. People-oriented occupations such as HR, teaching and healthcare tend to employ more women. Whether this is by personal choice or because society has shaped these occupations to be gendered as more female-centric can be up to debate.
Regardless, it does appear gender does affect pay, and these differences increase with age and at the highest and lowest tiers of educational attainment.
For women at the stage of choosing their studies and future careers, it may be worth considering whether your career choice is affected by societal perceptions of gender.
After all, you should choose a career that suits your individual preferences and not because of the salary or the societal norms around you.
This article was first published on DollarsAndSense.sg and updated with 2021 salary figures.
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