The jobless rate among Singaporean citizens stood at 3.3 percent in June 2019. (Photo: straitstimes.com)Singapore (VNA) – The jobless rate among Singaporean citizensstood at 3.3 percent in June 2019, as compared to 3.2 percent in March, accordingto the Ministry of Manpower.
The number of job vacancies declined for the second consecutive quarter to 47,700in June, down from 57,100 in March, after calculating seasonal variations.
This resulted in the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed people dipping belowone for the first time in more than a year. There was 0.94 percent opening perunemployed person in June.
Retrenchments rose to 5,550 in the first half, up from 5,370 in the second halfof last year, and 5,350 in the preceding six months. Professionals, managers, executivesand technicians made up the majority of locals retrenched, at 77 percent. Firmssaid the uptick in the number of retrenchments was due to their businessshake-up.
The ministry noted that in the recent threequarters, more employees have been placed on short work-week or temporarylayoff arrangements, which are typically viewed as better alternatives toretrenchments.
Growth in the number of people working in the country, excluding maids, slowedin the first half to 16,900, down from 31,400 in the second half of last year,which had been boosted by the festive season. But local firms hired moreforeign workers to fill gaps, especially in construction.
Foreign employment growth, excluding maids, overtook local employment growthfor the first time in three years. It was 11,600 in the first half of thisyear, up from 10,500 in the second half of last year. The ministry attributedthis mainly to growth in the service and construction sectors.
The construction sector continued to recover, adding 2,800 workers duringJanuary-June. Construction output is likely to see a turnaround this year afterthree consecutive years of contraction.
In the service sector, which added 19,000 workers in the period, employmentgrowth is expected in both outward-oriented and domestic-oriented segments,supported by demand for enterprise information technology solutions and paymentprocessing services, as well as the ramp-up of operations in healthcarefacilities./.
VNA
