Singapore's unemployment rate has remained at 2.2 per cent after rising for two consecutive quarters, reported the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

MOM also noted that employment grew by 57,800 in the third quarter, although this figure was lower than the 71,400 reported in the previous quarter, and the 58,600 recorded in the third quarter of last year.

Construction employment grew strongly by 16,400, although this was still lower than the record 22,400 gains in the previous quarter.

Primary estimates showed that 2,000 people were retrenched in the third quarter of this year – 1,500 from the electronics industry and 500 from the services industry.