Singapore’s full-time workers are taking more paid time off (PTO) than their counterparts across the Asia-Pacific region, according to new data from Deel. In 2025, Singaporean employees took a median of 19 vacation days, surpassing Hong Kong’s 16.5 days and Australia’s 16 days. This trend highlights a shift in attitudes towards leave in the region.
The analysis, which reviewed data from over 4,500 full-time workers in APAC, revealed that 57% of Singaporeans used all their entitled vacation leave, with 77% using at least 80%. These figures were the highest among the markets studied, indicating a strong inclination towards maximising leave entitlements.
Interestingly, Singaporeans often exceeded their median vacation entitlement of 18 days by utilising rollover days from previous years. This practice underscores a cultural shift towards prioritising longer, uninterrupted breaks, which research suggests can reduce burnout and enhance mental wellbeing.
Lauren Thomas, an economist at Deel, noted, “In Singapore, we see that when people have both access and permission, they actually use their leave—and they use it in ways that help them properly switch off.”
The findings suggest that flexible vacation policies encourage more time off, with Singaporean workers on such policies taking a median of 20.75 days off compared to 19 days for those on fixed entitlements. This pattern was consistent across several countries, except Indonesia, where fixed leave policies resulted in more vacation days.
As businesses strive to build resilient teams, understanding leave patterns becomes crucial. Employers are encouraged to integrate PTO into work design and capacity planning to maintain healthy, productive workforces.
