Singapore's unemployment rate to remain low at between 2% to 3% for second half of 2012

The Manpower Ministry says the country's unemployment rate will likely remain low, at between two and three per cent, for the rest of the year. 

And despite the contracting economy, close to 30 thousand more people found jobs in the second quarter of this year, compared to the first quarter. 

The Manpower Ministry says Construction is one industry likely to retain a robust hiring outlook for the second half of this year. 

Other areas of employment opportunities - the community and social service sectors. 

Economic growth is moderating and the Singapore Human Resources Institute says there are some sectors likely to cut down on hiring. 

The financial services, banking and logistics sectors will probably hire at a slower pace, due to the crisis in Europe and elsewhere. 

Labour productivity fell by about two per cent, continuing a downward trend. 

Economists like Assistant Professor Leong Kaiwen from Nanyang Technological University say less growth is one reason for lower work productivity - something Singapore is possibly experiencing. 

The Labour Movement holds a similar view to economists - that productivity is tied to growth. 

For longer term productivity, it says one way to track progress is to see if the economy is moving towards higher value-added activities.