Fewer job seekers, more job openings in third quarter of 2013

Job seekers at the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Career Fair 2013 listening to recruiters at a new pavilion featuring jobs in the energy sector. Amid low unemployment and continued strong job growth, there were fewer job seekers and more
Job seekers at the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Career Fair 2013 listening to recruiters at a new pavilion featuring jobs in the energy sector. Amid low unemployment and continued strong job growth, there were fewer job seekers and more job vacancies in the third quarter of 2013, according to latest figures released by the Manpower Ministry on Dec 13, 2013. -- ST FILE PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Amid low unemployment and continued strong job growth, there were fewer job seekers and more job vacancies in the third quarter of 2013, according to latest figures released by the Manpower Ministry on Friday.

Unemployment fell in September, with the overall seasonally-adjusted rate down to 1.8 per cent, from 2.1 per cent in June. It fell from 2.9 per cent to 2.6 per cent for residents, and 3.1 per cent to 2.8 per cent for citizens - the lowest since March 2011.

Employment rose by 33,100, slightly below the gains of 33,700 in the quarter before but higher than the same time last year. Fewer workers were laid off: 2,710, down from both the previous quarter and the year before.

There were also more job vacancies unfilled, with seasonally-adjusted job vacancies rising 5.9 per cent over the quarter. This meant that there were 1.41 job vacancies for every unemployed person in September, up from 1.12 in June.

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