SINGAPORE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's total employment rose by 5,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up from 2,300 a year earlier but sharply lower than the 17,700 recorded in the previous quarter, reflecting seasonal factors and a high base rather than broad labour market weakness, official data showed Thursday.

The Ministry of Manpower said in a statement that hiring was affected by typical slowdowns during the Chinese New Year period, particularly in construction.

Both resident and non-resident employment increased. Resident job gains were concentrated in transportation and storage as well as administrative and support services, while non-resident growth continued to be driven by construction, albeit at a slower pace.

Meanwhile, the country's unemployment rates edged up slightly in March, with the overall rate at 2.1 percent, resident unemployment at 2.9 percent and citizen unemployment at 3.1 percent. However, these were broadly stable compared with December levels.

The country's retrenchments remained low and unchanged at 1.5 per 1,000 employees in the first quarter, with 3,700 layoffs recorded. Most job cuts were attributed to business restructuring.

"Looking ahead to the second quarter, we expect the labor market to remain tight and continue to expand," said the ministry.

However, it noted businesses are expected to be cautious in their hiring and wage plans amid increased economic uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions.

It also said the share of companies planning to hire fell to 44.6 percent in March from 54.6 percent in February, while wage increase expectations also declined from 39.3 percent to 25.4 percent over the same period, pointing to a more measured pace of hiring.

"Although there are early signs of stabilization in April, expectations remain below pre-crisis levels in February. This suggests a more measured pace of hiring, with potential softening if external conditions weaken," it added. ■