SINGAPORE - MORE workers were laid off in the third quarter of the year.

Some 3,500 workers lost their jobs between July and September this year, up from 2,410 in the preceding three months, according to latest figures released by the Manpower Ministry on Monday.

About half of workers who were laid off this year were able to find jobs within six months.

Job openings also slowed in the third quarter of the year. Some 60,700 jobs were created between July and September, down from 64,600 in the second quarter.

But the good news was that employment grew by 33,400 in the third quarter, up from 27,700 in the preceding three months. Total employment stood at 3,583,200 in September.

Overall, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2 per cent in September. It has remained unchanged since March this year.

For citizens, the unemployment rate was 2.9 per cent and for residents, 2.8 per cent. Both were unchanged from June.