Unemployment in Singapore rose to 2.1% in June

Preliminary estimates show that the seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate in Singapore was 2.1 per cent in June 2013.

This is up from 1.9 per cent in March 2013 and 1.8 per cent in December 2012, according to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Research and Statistics Department in its report on the "Employment Situation, Second Quarter 2013" released here today.

MOM said the tight labour market showed signs of easing in the second quarter of 2013, as layoffs rose amid business restructuring and consolidation.

Unemployment increased for the second consecutive quarter, though it was still low and employment creation remained high.

It said the resident unemployment rate similarly rose to 3.0 per cent in June 2013 from 2.9 per cent in March 2013 and 2.7 per cent in December 2012, while the unemployment rate for citizens increased to 3.1 per cent from 2.9 per cent in the preceding two quarters.

Employment creation in the second quarter of 2013 (32,500) increased from the previous quarter (28,900) and was slightly above the second quarter of 2012 (31,700).

This brought total employment to 3,419,000 in June 2013, which was 4.0 per cent higher than a year ago.

Layoffs rose in the second quarter of 2013, affecting an estimated 2,900 workers, up from 2,120 in the preceding quarter and 2,210 in the second quarter of 2012.

Nonetheless, it remained below the recessionary highs of 6,000 to 12,800 per quarter.