Jobless rate inches up to 2.8% in July

Some 87,300 individuals were unemployed in July.

The overall unemployment rate in Singapore increased slightly to 2.8% in July from 2.7% in the previous month, the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) reported.

Over the same period, the rate of joblessness of residents went up to 3.7% from 3.5%, whilst the rate rose to 3.9% from 3.7% amongst citizens.

The increase was linked to the easing of demand for manpower amidst restrictions imposed when the virus resurged in May, the ministry noted.

“Other labour market indicators suggest this increase could be due to the temporary easing of manpower demand in certain sectors during the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) from 16 May to 13 June 2021,” the MoM said in a statement.

Despite the increase in July, the MoM noted the rates remained compared to the joblessness seen in in May 2021.

In total, 87,300 residents were unemployed in July 2021, including 77,200 citizens.