Singapore 2Q unemployment rate at 2.1%, up from 2.0% in 1Q

SINGAPORE (July 27): Singapore’s overall unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 2.1% in June from 2.0% in March as more people entered the workforce, reported the Ministry of Manpower today.

Preliminary data in 2Q18 ended June showed that total employment grew even as unemployment rates ticked upwards. This happened as more persons entered the labour force to look for work on the back of continued expansion in economic activities. Retrenchments in 2Q18 were lower than the same period a year ago, but higher than the previous quarter.

Total employment -- excluding Foreign Domestic Workers -- increased by 7,100 in 2Q18, versus a 400 increase in 1Q18 and a prior-year decline of 7,900 in 1Q17. This reflected contractions in Construction and Manufacturing jobs moderated, said MOM.

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