Layoffs in Singapore swell to 4,800 in 2Q16

Job vacancies also fell for the sixth consecutive quarter.

More workers in the city-state are losing their jobs as 4,800 workers were made redundant in the second quarter of 2016 alone, up slightly from 4,710 in 1Q16.

According to a press release by the ministry of manpower, the number of redundancies is the highest second quarter redundancies since 2009.

Workers are also finding it harder to re-enter the workforce after being laid off as 45% made redundant in 1Q 2016 re-entered employment by June 2016, a slight decline from 46% in the previous quarter and the lowest since June 2009.

Meanwhile, job vacancies also fell for the sixth consecutive quarter to 49,400 in June 2016.

“The decline was broad-based across many sectors and occupation groups. Coupled with the increase in job seekers, the seasonally-adjusted ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons declined to 0.93, the lowest since March 2010 (0.87),” the report said.