More found jobs in Q2

However, unemployment rate for those aged 30 and below increased.

- 

Going by age, fewer older workers aged 40 and above found work within six months post-retrenchment.

The sharpest decline was observed among those aged 60 and above, from 57.9 per cent in the first quarter to 41.1 per cent in the second quarter.

However, Mr Ang Boon Heng, director of MOM’s manpower research and statistics department, told reporters in a briefing that the pool of retrenched job seekers in a given quarter may be more employable than those in another, giving rise to significant swings.

Instead, it is more useful to evaluate the longer-term trend, he said.

Overall, there were 10,400 more employed people here in the second quarter, comprising 2,600 residents and 7,800 nonresidents, up from employment growth of 200 residents and 2,000 nonresidents recorded in the first quarter.

Growth in resident employment was led by financial and insurance services, as well as health and social services.

But resident employment declined in the second quarter in the lower-paying food and beverage services, as well as in retail trade.

“Nonresident employment growth was led by work permit holders, in roles such as construction labourers and drivers, which were less likely to attract resident applicants,” MOM said.