| Agence
France Presse September 12, 2005 SINGAPORE SINGAPORE'S economy created 49,500 new jobs in the first half of 2005, the best figures over a six-month period in more than four years and double the 24,600 of a year ago, the government said Monday, Sept 12. In the June quarter, employment grew 31,700 jobs, up sharply from 10,900 in the same quarter a year ago as the economy in the three months to June grew an annual 5.2 percent, the Manpower Ministry said in its quarterly report on the labour market. The unemployment rate at the end of June was 3.4 percent, down from 3.3 percent at end March. "Driven by sustained economic growth, employment creation picked up momentum and job vacancies continued to rise amid a positive business outlook for the second half of this year," the ministry said. The services and manufacturing sectors, both key centers of economic activity, recorded employment gains of 18,400 and 9,300 respectively. A central bank poll of private sector economists showed they expect Singapore's economy to grow 4.4 percent in 2005, which is close to the top range of the government's target of 3.5-4.5 percent. |
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