SINGAPORE, July 27 — Employers are exercising greater caution when hiring even if they have unfilled vacancies, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) yesterday as its latest quarterly labour report showed weaker job growth.

Unemployment rates inched up in the second quarter ended June 30, amid challenging global economic conditions.

Despite the slower job growth, the number of workers who were retrenched in the second quarter actually declined compared with the first quarter, the report said.

Job growth

A total of 4,000 jobs were added to the labour market in the second quarter, well down from 10,700 jobs added in the first quarter. In the second quarter of 2018, 6,500 jobs were added.

Sectors which saw job growth included information and communications, professional services, financial services and construction.

Sectors which contracted: Manufacturing and retail trade.

Unemployment

Although the seasonally-adjusted overall unemployment rate remained at 2.2 per cent, both resident and citizen employment rates inched up, continuing a trend which started in September 2018.