Jobless rate eases to 3.3 percent
    in September quarter

 
  Agence France Presse
October  31, 2005
SINGAPORE


SINGAPORE'S unemployment rate improved to 3.3 percent at the end of September from 3.4 percent in the June quarter as the number of new jobs doubled from the same period a year ago, the government said Monday, Oct 31.

Preliminary estimates showed 28,700 new jobs were created in the three months to September quarter, compared to 14,100 in the same period last year, the Minstry of Manpower said.

It is the eighth straight quarter of job gains and brings the total number of jobs created in the first nine months of 2005 to 78,200, the ministry said.

Singapore's main industries recorded jobs growth with the largest jump of 18.4 percent coming from the services sector followed by 8.0 percent in manufacturing.

The trade-led economy is projected to grow 3.5-4.5 percent this year.


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