Latest Manpower Ministry report shows fewer jobs, lower productivity in Q1

There were fewer jobs available in the first quarter of the year (January to March 2012). 

In March, there were 105 job openings for every 100 unemployed individuals. 

This is lower than December last year, where there were 120 jobs available for every 100 job seekers. 

According to the latest labour market report, there were 50,000 job vacancies from January to March after adjusting for seasonality.

This is a 9.7 percent fall compared to the last three months of 2011. 

Unemployment also rose slightly to 2.1 percent in March, up from 2 percent in December. 

Unemployment rates for citizens also inched up to 3.2 percent from 3 percent 

Unemployment rates for residents went up from 2.9 percent to 3 percent.

The Manpower Ministry said these figures suggested that manpower shortages have eased. 

The number of jobs created also eased. 

Total employment rose by 27,200 in the first quarter of the year, a 3.9 percent fall compared to the first quarter of 2011, where 28,300 jobs were created. 

This was also lower than the seasonal high increase of 37,600 in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The bulk of employment gains in the first quarter continued to come from services (15,800), mainly community, social & personal services (8,800) and administrative & support services (3,400). 

Construction continued to register strong increase of 8,700, while manufacturing employment rose by 2,000. 

Labour productivity fell 2.2 percent in the first three months of the year, after declining 0.5 percent in the previous quarter. 

Nominal average monthly wages rose slightly over the year by 0.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012, lower than the increase of 4.0 percent in the preceding quarter. 

After adjusting for inflation, wages fell over the year by 3.9 percent in the first quarter, after declining by 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter last year. 

MOM said 2,600 workers were made redundant in the first quarter, down from 3,250 in the fourth quarter of 2011.