SINGAPORE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Total employment in Singapore grew by 4,900 in the first quarter this year, down from 7,500 in the previous quarter, according to the labor market data released by the Ministry of Manpower Tuesday.
The growth came entirely from Singapore citizens and permanent residents, mainly in financial services, health services, public administration, and education.
Non-resident employment fell for the first time in the city-state since the fourth quarter of 2021 due to a decline in the construction sector.
Retrenchments fell for the second consecutive quarter to 3,000 in the first quarter this year from 3,460 in the previous quarter.
The number of employed persons in Singapore totaled 3,718,300 as of March, except for migrant domestic workers, according to the data.
The overall unemployment rate grew slightly in March to 2.1 percent from 2.0 percent in 2023. ■
