Singapore Q3 jobless rate 1.9% vs 2% in Q2

SINGAPORE - Singapore's Ministry of Manpower released preliminary unemployment data for the third quarter of 2014 on Friday.

Total employment grew by 27,100 in the third quarter, little changed from 27,700 in the previous quarter.

The growth in total employment was lower than the 33,100 recorded a year ago.

Singaporeans and people with permanent residency status make up about two-thirds of the total workforce.

Singapore has been making it harder for firms to hire low-cost foreign workers to try to reduce its dependence on overseas labour and address complaints by citizens concerned about overcrowding and increased competition for jobs.