Resident, citizen unemployment in Singapore edge up in third quarter

Amid a softer economy, unemployment edged up in Singapore and overall employment grew by the slowest in six years, the Ministry of Manpower said on Tuesday (Dec 15).

Unemployment rose to 3.1 per cent for Singapore citizens and 3 per cent for residents in September, according to the latest Labour Market Report from the ministry. Overall unemployment remained at 2 per cent.

Overall employment grew by 12,600 in the third quarter, down from an increase of 33,400 in the third quarter of 2014. For the first three quarters of this year, overall employment grew by 16,200, the lowest growth since 2009.

A total of 3,460 workers were laid off in the third quarter, an increase from the 3,250 laid off in the previous quarter but similar to the 3,500 laid off in the third quarter of 2014.

The number of job vacancies declined, with seasonally-adjusted vacancies down 11 per cent to 55,600 in September. This translates to a ratio of 116 openings per 100 job seekers, down from a ratio of 121 in June.

news source & image credits: channelnewsasia.com

Read more HR NEWS in ASIA