Singapore's employment grows at 'moderate pace' in Q2: MOM

SINGAPORE'S employment grew at a "moderate pace" in the second quarter of this year, and layoffs continued to fall for a second quarter in the row, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday.

Overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, in the meantime, edged up from 1.8 per cent in March to 2 per cent in June, as unemployment rose among residents (from 2.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent) and citizens (from 2.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent). According to MOM, the trend is similar to those seen last year.

Overall employment grew by 15,700 in the second quarter, especially in construction and services. For the first half of the year, however, employment growth moderated compared to a year ago, MOM said.

Fewer workers were made redundant in the quarter too. Some 3,100 workers were laid off, down from 3,500 in the first quarter.