Jobless rate of Singaporeans in March 2017 stays flat at 3.5% (Amended)

THE jobless rate of Singaporeans and residents remained unchanged in March 2017 compared to December 2016, at a seasonally-adjusted 3.5 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively, based on advance estimates released by the Ministry of Manpower on Friday.

Total unemployment, including foreigners, however, edged up to 2.3 per cent in March 2017, from 2.2 per cent three months ago.

In March 2017, an estimated 74,400 residents, including 67,100 Singapore citizens, were unemployed, broadly similar to December 2016.

The number of people employed shrank by 8,500 in the first quarter of 2017, a reversal of the seasonal high increase of 2,300 people employed in the fourth quarter of 2016, mainly due to a decrease in work permit holders in manufacturing and construction.

There were fewer redundancies of 4,800 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 5,440 in the fourth quarter of 2016. Layoffs declined in manufacturing but continued to increase in construction and services.

Amendment notes: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that 2,300 people were employed in the fourth quarter of 2016.. It is in fact an increase of 2,300 people employed in the fourth quarter of 2016. The article above has been revised to reflect this.