Singapore's unemployment rate edges up slightly in Q2

The seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate in Singapore reached 2.3 percent in the second quarter of this year, official data showed on Friday.

The second quarter number edged up slightly from 2.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, but improved from 3.2 percent in the same period of last year, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower said.

Similarly, among the resident labor force, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly from 3.2 percent in the first quarter to 3.3 percent in the second quarter, but was significantly below the 4.5 percent in the second quarter of 2009.

On the other hand, employment continued to grow in the second quarter of 2010. Total employment is estimated to have grown by 26, 500 in the second quarter, continuing the employment gains that started from the third quarter of 2009. The employment increase was lower than the 36,500 in the first quarter of 2010.

Services sector contributed the bulk of the employment gains, with an addition of 27,400 workers in the second quarter of 2010. Construction registered an increase of 1,800 workers. Manufacturing employment however fell by 2,400, after increasing by 3,100 in the preceding quarter.

Source: Xinhua