SINGAPORE, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 31,700 new jobs were created in Singapore in the second quarter of this year, much higher than the number of 10,900 recorded in the corresponding quarter of last year, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday.

    The MOM attributed the strong performance to the country's sustained economic growth and a positive business outlook for the second half of this year.

    Some 18,400 workers found jobs in the services sector from April to June this year, comprising the bulk of the employment growth, while the employment gains for the manufacturing and construction sectors were 9,300 and 3,400 respectively in the same period.

    Overall employment rose by 49,500 in the first half of this year, the highest number in four and a half years, which was more than double the increase of 24,600 registered during the same period of last year.

    The overall unemployment rate in June rose to 4.3 percent from 2.8 percent in March this year, but slightly lower than the 4.4 percent in June last year. An estimated 97,200 residents stayed unemployed in June this year.

    The figures also showed that some 2,116 workers were retrenched in the second quarter of this year, 3 percent higher than the corresponding period of last year. Enditem